Liquid storage, isolation and dispensing assembly

Abstract

A liquid storage, isolation and dispensing assembly includes a container, which defines an axis and has an inner surface, top and float. The top is mountable to the upper end with a sealing element engaging the inner surface at a liquid sealing position. The open upper end is least partially unobstructed when the top is at the liquid pouring position. The float includes a top portion, a bottom portion and a sealing edge sized to create a minimal gap between the sealing edge and the interior surface when floating on the liquid surface with the axis generally vertical. Tilting the container creates a gap between the float and the inner surface permitting the liquid to pass the sealing edge and out of the open upper end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid storage, isolation and dispensing assembly comprising:
 a container having a bottom and a circumferentially extending sidewall, the sidewall having a lower end extending from the bottom and an open upper end;   the sidewall defining an axis and having an inner surface;   the bottom and the sidewall defining a container interior for holding a liquid;   a top mountable to the upper end, the top having a sealing element engageable with the inner surface;   the top positionable at a liquid sealing position and at a liquid pouring position;   the sealing element creating a liquid seal with the inner surface when the top is at the liquid sealing position;   the open upper end being least partially unobstructed when the top is at the liquid pouring position;   at least a portion of the inner surface having a constant cross-sectional shape and size along said axis;   a float positionable within the interior;   the float comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, and a sealing edge;   the sealing edge having the same cross-sectional shape as the portions of the inner surface;   the sealing edge sized to create a minimal gap between the sealing edge and the interior surface when (1) the float is floating on the surface of a liquid within the container, (2) the axis is generally vertical, and (3) the liquid surface is along the portion of the inner surface;   whereby a liquid within the container can be poured from the container by placing the top at the liquid pouring position and tilting the container causing a portion of the sealing edge of the float to move away from the inner surface permitting the liquid to pass the sealing edge and out of the open upper end.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least a portion of the sidewall between the lower end and the upper end has a cylindrical shape; and   the entire open upper end flares outwardly to accommodate pouring from the container in any direction.   
     
     
         3 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the top is completely removed from the container when in the liquid pouring position; and
 the container comprises a float retaining element at the open upper end to help maintain the float in the container interior during use with the top in the liquid pouring position.   
     
     
         4 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the upper end defines a pouring element; and   the sealing element and the inner surface creates a pouring gap between the sealing element and the inner surface at the pouring element when the top is at the liquid pouring position;   whereby a liquid poured from the container passes through the pouring gap and out of the pouring element.   
     
     
         5 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the sidewall between the lower end and the upper end has an other than round cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the other than round cross-sectional shape is an oval cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the other than round cross-sectional shape has bilateral symmetry, and the top is mountable to the open upper end at both the liquid sealing position and at the liquid pouring position, the liquid sealing and liquid pouring positions of the top being oriented at an angle from one another. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the pouring element comprises an outwardly extending spout-like pouring element. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the sidewall defines a first axis extending between the upper and lower ends and the top has a second axis oriented generally parallel to the first axis when the top is mounted to the upper end;   the top has a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end being positioned within the upper end of the container when the top is mounted to the upper end;   the sealing element being a closed loop sealing element;   the sealing element has upper and lower regions at different positions along the sealing element, the upper region being closer to the upper end of the container than the lower region;   the upper region being aligned with the pouring element when the top is at the liquid pouring position; and   the upper region being misaligned from the pouring element when the top is at the liquid sealing position.   
     
     
         10 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a float retaining element at the open upper end to help maintain the float in the container interior during use. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the float has a center of gravity positioned within the bottom portion. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the float is configured so that when the float is floating at the surface of a liquid, the sealing edge is generally coincident with the surface of the liquid. 
     
     
         13 . A liquid storage, isolation and dispensing assembly comprising:
 a container having a bottom and a circumferentially extending sidewall, the sidewall having a lower end extending from the bottom and an open upper end;   the container positionable at a first, storage orientation and a second, liquid dispensing orientation;   the sidewall having an inner surface;   the bottom and the sidewall defining a container interior for holding a liquid;   at least a portion of the inner surface having a constant horizontally oriented cross-sectional shape and size;   the portion of the inner surface defining an axis extending between the lower end and the upper end;   a float positionable within the interior;   the float comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, and a sealing edge;   the float configured so that when the float is floating at the surface of a liquid, the sealing edge is generally coincident with the surface of the liquid; and   the sealing edge having the same cross-sectional shape as the inner surface, the sealing edge configured so that when the float is floating on the surface of a liquid within the container and the liquid surface is along the portion of the inner surface, (1) a minimal gap is created between the sealing edge and the interior surface when the container is at the first orientation, and (2) a pouring gap created between the sealing edge and the interior surface when the container is at the second orientation.   
     
     
         14 . The assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the axis extends vertically when the container is at the first, storage orientation. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the axis is a straight line. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the top portion comprises a lifting handle. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the bottom portion has a surface extending downwardly and inwardly from the sealing edge. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the float has a centerline extending through the top portion, the sealing edge and the bottom portion, the center of gravity being located along the centerline. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the float has a center of gravity positioned within the bottom portion. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the portion of the sidewall has a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         21 . The assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the open upper end flares outwardly to accommodate pouring from the container in any direction. 
     
     
         22 . The assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the container comprises a float retaining element at the open upper end to help maintain the float in the container interior during use with the container at the second, liquid dispensing orientation. 
     
     
         23 . A liquid storage and dispensing container assembly comprising:
 a container having a bottom and a circumferentially extending sidewall, the sidewall having a lower end extending from the bottom and an open upper end;   the sidewall having an inner surface;   the bottom and the sidewall defining a container interior for holding a liquid;   the upper end comprising a pouring element;   a top mountable to the upper end, the top comprising a sealing element engageable with the inner surface;   the top, when mounted to the upper end, positionable at a liquid sealing position and at a liquid pouring position;   the sealing element creating a liquid seal with the inner surface when the top is at the liquid sealing position; and   the sealing element and the inner surface creating a gap between the sealing element and the inner surface at the pouring element when the top is at the liquid pouring position.   
     
     
         24 . The assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein at least a portion of the sidewall between the lower end and the upper end has an other than round cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         25 . The assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein the other than round cross-sectional shape is an oval cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         26 . The assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein the other than round cross-sectional shape has bilateral symmetry, and the liquid sealing and liquid pouring positions are oriented 180° from one another. 
     
     
         27 . The assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein the pouring element comprises an outwardly extending spout-like pouring element. 
     
     
         28 . The assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 the sidewall defines a first axis extending between the upper and lower ends and the top has a second axis oriented generally parallel to the first axis when the top is mounted to the upper end;   the top has a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end being positioned within the upper end of the container when the top is mounted to the upper end;   the sealing element being a closed loop sealing element;   the sealing element has upper and lower regions at different positions along the sealing element, the upper region being closer to the upper end of the container than the lower region;   the upper region being aligned with the pouring element when the top is at the liquid pouring position; and   the upper region being misaligned from the pouring element when the top is at the liquid sealing position.   
     
     
         29 . The assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein the sealing element comprises a flexible band.