Sound producing liquid dispenser and liquid pouring devices

Abstract

A sound producing liquid dispenser has a structure sized and configured to seal an opening in a container, a liquid outlet opening for dispensing liquid from the container, one or more air passageway(s) allowing air to flow between the interior and exterior of the container, and a sound producing mechanism located in proximity to the air passageway. A contoured and/or decorative outer housing may be provided. Various types of sound producing mechanisms are useful, including sound chambers formed (at least in part) by perforated walls or reeds and pea whistles. In some embodiments, the sound producing mechanism may be detachable. In particular embodiments, the sound produced during or following a pouring operation sounds like birdsong, and in some embodiments, a contoured outer housing is provided in the form of a bird.

1 . A liquid dispenser comprising: a stopper sized and configured to close a container having a liquid reservoir and an opening; a contoured housing operatively associated with the stopper, the housing having a liquid outlet opening and at least one air opening; a liquid passageway transiting the stopper and the contoured housing and accessing the liquid outlet opening; an air passageway transiting the stopper and the contoured housing and accessing the at least one air opening; and a sound producing mechanism mounted in communication with the air passageway and configured to produce sound when liquid is poured from the dispenser, wherein the sound producing mechanism is detachably mounted in the liquid dispenser. 
     
     
         2 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the stopper is sized and configured to fit snugly over the container opening. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the stopper is sized and configured to fit snugly within the container opening. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the stopper, the liquid passageway and the air passageway are provided in a liquid dispenser constructed as an integral, unitary element. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the sound producing mechanism is selected from the group consisting of: a sound chamber comprising spaced, perforated walls; a sound chamber comprising a reed; and a sound chamber having at least one perforated wall and enclosing at least one movable ball. 
     
     
         6 . A liquid dispenser comprising: a device body having a contoured external configuration; a stopper sized and configured to close a container having a liquid reservoir and an opening; a liquid outlet opening and at least one air opening penetrating the device body; a liquid pathway transiting the stopper and the device body and accessing the liquid outlet opening; an air pathway transiting the stopper and the device body and accessing the at least one air opening; and a sound producing mechanism mounted in communication with the air pathway and configured to produce sound when liquid is poured from the dispenser, wherein the device body and the stopper are constructed as a unitary, single piece having penetrating bores providing the liquid pathway and the air pathway. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the contoured outer housing has an outer configuration in the form of a bird with the liquid outlet opening provided at a beak. 
     
     
         8 . A liquid dispenser comprising: a stopper sized and configured to close a container having a liquid reservoir and an opening; a contoured housing having an interior chamber operatively associated with the stopper, the housing having a liquid outlet opening and at least one air opening; a liquid passageway transiting the stopper and the interior chamber of the contoured housing and accessing the liquid outlet opening; an air passageway transiting the stopper and the interior chamber of the contoured housing and accessing the at least one air opening; and a sound producing mechanism mounted in communication with the air passageway and configured to produce sound when liquid is poured from the dispenser, wherein the interior chamber comprises a substantially hollow interior volume without structurally defined liquid and air passageways. 
     
     
         9 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the stopper is sized and configured to fit snugly over the container opening. 
     
     
         10 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the stopper is sized and configured to fit snugly within the container opening. 
     
     
         11 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 8 , additionally comprising at least one aerator located within the substantially hollow interior volume along the liquid passageway. 
     
     
         12 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 1 , additionally comprising at least one aerator located along the liquid passageway. 
     
     
         13 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the air passageway is provided as an air introduction tube having a substantially linear orientation. 
     
     
         14 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the air passageway is provided as an air introduction tube having a substantially linear orientation and an angled leg extension provided at a terminal end positioned to project into a container. 
     
     
         15 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the air passageway is provided as an air introduction tube having a substantially linear orientation and a U-shaped or J-shaped extension provided at a terminal end positioned to project into a container. 
     
     
         16 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the device body is substantially solid other than the air pathway and the liquid pathway transiting the device body. 
     
     
         17 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein an external terminal region of the air pathway is configured to provide a retention structure for stably receiving and retaining a removable sound producing mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein an external terminal region of the air pathway comprises an enlarged area in the region of the sound producing mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein an external terminal region of the air pathway has an angled orientation with respect to an orientation of the air pathway as it transits the stopper. 
     
     
         20 . The liquid dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the sound producing mechanism is selected from the group consisting of: a sound chamber comprising spaced, perforated walls; a sound chamber comprising a reed; and a sound chamber having at least one perforated wall and enclosing at least one movable ball.