Inflatable funnel

United States Patent Application 20080017697

Inflatable funnel that can be inflated into any shape, deflated into any shape, folded up into any shape and stored in a minimal amount of space.

Kumler, Bret Larence (San Clemente, CA, US)

11/356619

01/24/2008

02/17/2006

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232/43

A47G29/14

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MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS

Bret Kumler (Huntington Beach, CA, US)

What is claimed is:

1. A funnel for pouring material, the funnel comprising: a sloped funnel segment; a plurality of inflatable pockets, each comprising a left end, a right end, a top end and a bottom end; the plurality of inflatable pockets wherein each of the plurality of inflatable pockets is connected at one end to the sloped funnel segment and at the left end to the right end of another one of the plurality of inflatable pockets; A valve for blowing air and releasing the air; the plurality of pockets filling up when air is blown in through the valve; A plug is placed in valve to prevent the plurality of pockets from releasing air.

2. The funnel according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pockets releasing or collapsing air through the valve.

3. The funnel according to claim 2, wherein the sloped funnel segment releasing or collapsing air through the valve.

4. The funnel according to claim 1, wherein the placement of valve on any plurality of pockets.

5. The funnel according to claim 1, wherein the placement of valve on the sloped funnel segment.

6. The funnel according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of pockets at least some of inflatable.

7. The funnel according to claim 3, wherein the sloped funnel segment at least some of inflatable.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The complete subject matter of the above-referenced U.S. Provisional Patent Application is hereby incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety. In addition, this application makes reference to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/654,402, entitled “Inflatable Funnel”, and filed Feb. 18, 2005, the complete subject matter of each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[Not Applicable]

MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE

[Not Applicable]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most funnels are used for adding oil to an engine and are made of hard bulky plastic. With most funnels, the more liquid you would like to hold, the bigger the funnel and storage space it will take up. Most funnels don't bend very well in hard to reach places. Prior patents for the collapsible funnels have been issued and are not truly collapsible to a point of fitting into small places for storage. Savage U.S. Pat. No. 743,570 shows an inflatable snake or the like that is provided with a valve for inflation and “slow leakage” (p. 1, line 40), so that the toy assumes various shapes during inflation and deflation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A broad object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable funnel which can be constructed of many inflatable pockets, filled with air through a valve and a plug is placed in the valve to prevent air from releasing the many inflatable pockets.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inflatable funnel which can have many sloped inflatable pockets.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inflatable funnel which can release air from a valve thus causing the air in the many inflatable pockets to be released and or collapsed.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an inflatable funnel which can release air from a valve thus causing the air in the many sloped inflatable pockets to be released and or collapsed.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an inflatable funnel which can have a valve located on any of the inflatable pockets.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an inflatable funnel which can have a valve located on any of the sloped inflatable pockets.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an inflatable funnel which can have some inflatable pockets.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an inflatable funnel which can have some sloped inflatable pockets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a wired diagram of the inflatable funnel with components.

FIG. 2 illustrates the inflatable funnel.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of the inflatable funnel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a wired diagram of the inflatable funnel. The inflatable funnel (101) is connected to the tube (102). There can be any number of tubes (102) connected to the inflatable funnel (101). There's a valve (103) which is connected to the inflatable funnel (101). There's also a plug (104) which can be connected to the valve (103) and an optional one at the end of the tube(s) (102). The inflatable funnel (101) is comprises of many inflatable pockets (105, 106, 107, 108 109), when combined together, they create the inflatable funnel (101). These same inflatable pockets (106, 107, 108 &109) deflate and are the pieces which make the inflatable funnel (101) collapse for storage. When fully assembled, you should have a complete inflatable funnel (FIG. 3). The funnel and its components are made of vinyl and can vary in size.

FIG. 2 illustrates the inflatable funnel. The funnel is inflated through (203). During the inflation, through the valve (203), parts (201) and (202) are filled with air pressurizing areas (201 and 202), refer to FIG. 1 for more details. In order to prevent the air from leaking out of the valve (203), a plug (204) is inserted in to the valve (203). Deflating the funnel is done through the valve (203). The un-pressurized parts/areas are discussed in more detail in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of the inflatable funnel. The inflatable funnel must be unfolded in order to used. In order to do so you should unravel/unfold (306, 305, 304 and 302). After unraveling/unfolding, remove plug (309) from the valve (303) and fill the funnel with air, through the valve (303). Air should pressurize/inflate (301 and 302), (304, 305, 306, 307 and 308) will not be inflated. Make sure the plug (309) is inserted into the valve (303) to keep air in sections (301 and 302). Remove the plug (310) from the end of the tube (307). Once pressurized, liquid, particles or fluid can be poured in to the inflatable funnel, which will travel through sections (308, 304, 305, 306 and 307). To stop flow of liquid, particles or fluid, fold in half section (304 or 305 or 306) or use the plug (310). When you are done with the inflatable funnel, squeeze the valve (303) to un-pressurized the funnel (301 and 302). You can proceed to fold up the funnel by folding sections (306, 305, 304 and 302) together.

Steps to inflate the funnel are as follows: Refer to FIG. 2, remove plug (204) from valve (203); Blow air into valve (203) until air fills up in areas (201 and 202); Insert plug (204) back into valve (203).

Steps to deflate the funnel are as follows: Refer to FIG. 2, remove plug (204) from valve (203); Squeeze areas (201 and 202); Air will exit valve (203). At this point, leave plug (204) out of the valve (203) or insert the plug (204) back into the valve (203).

Steps to fold away/store the inflatable funnel are as follows: Refer to FIGS. 2 and 3, remove plug (204) from valve (203). Squeeze areas (201 and 202). Air will exit valve (203). At this point leave plug (204) out of the valve (203) or insert the plug (204) back into the valve (203). Flatten, fold and store.