Vented Pour Spout

Abstract

A pour spout has an elongate body with a primary flow channel and a secondary flow channel, a dispensing orifice at one end of the pour spout, and an attachment end at an opposite end of the pour spout. An air vent is positioned nearer the attachment end and has an air inlet into the elongate tubular body and in fluid communication with the secondary flow channel. The air vent allows air to flow from the inlet opening into the secondary flow channel and toward the attachment end during pouring of liquid from the dispensing end of the pour spout.

1 . A pour spout comprising:
 an elongate tubular body having a primary flow channel and a secondary flow channel of a smaller cross-sectional area than the primary flow channel;   a dispensing orifice at a dispensing end of the pour spout;   an attachment end at an opposite end of the pour spout; and   an air vent positioned nearer the attachment end and having an inlet opening into the elongate tubular body and an air flow path in fluid communication with the secondary flow channel,   wherein the air flow path allows air to flow from the inlet opening into the secondary flow channel and toward the attachment end during pouring of liquid from the dispensing end of the pour spout.   
     
     
         2 . A pour spout according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet opening faces radially outward from the elongate body. 
     
     
         3 . A pour spout according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet opening faces axially toward the dispending end. 
     
     
         4 . A pour spout according to  claim 3 , wherein the inlet opening is spaced radially from the secondary flow channel. 
     
     
         5 . A pour spout according to  claim 3 , wherein the inlet opening is provided on an inlet tube of the air vent, the inlet tube being spaced radially from the secondary flow channel. 
     
     
         6 . A pour spout according to  claim 5 , wherein the air flow path is a circuitous path. 
     
     
         7 . A pour spout according to  claim 1 , wherein the air flow path is a circuitous path. 
     
     
         8 . A pour spout according to  claim 1 , wherein the air vent includes a vent tube with a portion received in the secondary flow channel. 
     
     
         9 . A pour spout according to  claim 1 , wherein the air vent further comprises:
 an inlet tube spaced radially from the secondary flow channel and defining an air channel;   a bypass passage adjacent the secondary flow channel and in fluid communication with the air channel; and   an air return outlet in fluid communication with the bypass channel and the secondary flow channel.   
     
     
         10 . A pour spout according to  claim 9 , wherein the inlet opening is on an end of the inlet tube, wherein an air return outlet provides fluid communication between the secondary flow channel and the bypass passage, wherein the bypass passage is in fluid communication with an end of the inlet tube opposite the inlet opening, and wherein the inlet opening is positionally staggered relative to the air return outlet and is closer to the dispending end of the pour spout than the air return outlet. 
     
     
         11 . A pour spout according to  claim 9 , wherein the bypass passage includes a pair of the bypass passages on opposite sides of a portion of the elongate tubular body. 
     
     
         12 . A pour spout according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a vent tube having an exposed portion extending beyond and away from the attachment end of the pour spout and a blocking portion within the secondary flow channel.   
     
     
         13 . A pour spout according to  claim 12 , wherein the blocking portion covers open sides of the bypass passage facing the secondary flow channel but does not cover the air return outlet. 
     
     
         14 . A pour spout according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a check valve having a valve chamber within part of the inlet tube and a valve body within the valve chamber, the check valve closing off the air channel with the pour spout in an upright orientation with the dispensing end generally elevated above the attachment end.   
     
     
         15 . A pour spout according to  claim 9 , wherein the air vent and the elongate body are integrally molded as a one piece structure. 
     
     
         16 . A pour spout according to  claim 15 , further comprising a vent tube partially inserted into the secondary flow channel and having an exposed portion protruding beyond and away from the attachment end. 
     
     
         17 . A pour spout according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongate tubular body has a first tube section and a second tube section arranged side-by-side adjacent one another, the first tube section defining the primary flow channel and the second tube section defining the secondary flow channel. 
     
     
         18 . A pour spout according to  claim 17 , further comprising a nozzle segment at a distal end of the primary tube section, the nozzle segment defining an outlet channel and the dispensing orifice. 
     
     
         19 . A pour spout according to  claim 18 , wherein the primary flow channel transitions gradually within a transition region from a non-round cross-section shape into a cylindrical shape of the outlet channel. 
     
     
         20 . A pour spout according to  claim 19 , wherein the secondary flow channel merges with the primary flow channel and the outlet channel at least within or downstream of the transition region. 
     
     
         21 . A pour spout according to  claim 18 , wherein the outlet channel has a cross-sectional area that is less than a cross-sectional area of the primary flow channel. 
     
     
         22 . A pour spout according to  claim 17 , wherein the secondary flow channel has a cylindrical cross-sectional shape and the primary flow channel has a non-round shape, and wherein the primary flow channel has a cross-sectional area that is greater than a cross-sectional area of the secondary flow channel. 
     
     
         23 . A pour spout according to  claim 1 , wherein the air flow path flows first toward the dispensing end of the pour spout and then via the secondary flow channel toward the attachment end of the pour spout during pouring of liquid from the dispensing end of the pour spout.