REMOVABLE SPOUT ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A spout assembly to be installed on a coffee bag, the spout assembly including an inner portion to be at least partially disposed within the coffee bag, the inner portion including an insertion body having a cylindrical shape, a gripping portion, and an outer threaded portion circumferentially disposed on the inner portion between the insertion body and the gripping portion, and an outer portion to be at least partially disposed outside the coffee bag, the outer portion including a receiving body having a cylindrical shape to receive the insertion body therein, another gripping portion, an inner threaded portion disposed within an inner circumference of the receiving body, and a spout protrusion to extend from a front surface of the receiving body.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field

[0001] The present general inventive concept relates generally to a spout, and particularly, to a removable spout assembly to be attached to a coffee bag.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0002] The KEURIG coffee maker can presently be found in millions of kitchens, but many KEURIG owners have turned against the use of the pre-filled, disposable KEURIG K-CUPS for environmental reasons, as landfills are now overflowing with K-CUPS. The only alternative these people have is to use a refillable K-CUP and fill it themselves with coffee from coffee bags purchased from grocery stores or specialty coffee shops, such as STARBUCKS. However, pouring coffee grounds accurately from a 1-pound coffee bag into a tiny K-CUP, without spillage, is almost impossible to do.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need for device that facilitates pouring of coffee grounds from a coffee bag into a refillable K-CUP.

SUMMARY

[0004] The present general inventive concept provides a removable spout assembly to be attached to a coffee bag.

[0005] Additional features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.

[0006] The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a spout assembly to be installed on a coffee bag, the spout assembly including an inner portion to be at least partially disposed within the coffee bag, the inner portion including an insertion body having a cylindrical shape, a gripping portion, and an outer threaded portion circumferentially disposed on the inner portion between the insertion body and the gripping portion, and an outer portion to be at least partially disposed outside the coffee bag, the outer portion including a receiving body having a cylindrical shape to receive the insertion body therein, another gripping portion, an inner threaded portion disposed within an inner circumference of the receiving body, and a spout protrusion to extend from a front surface of the receiving body.

[0007] A portion of the coffee bag may be caught between the insertion body and the receiving body when the spout assembly is installed on the coffee bag.

[0008] The inner threaded portion may correspond to the outer threaded portion during installation of the spout assembly onto the coffee bag.

[0009] The inner portion may further include a backing disposed transversely with respect to the gripping portion of the inner portion.

[0010] A portion of the coffee bag may be caught between a rear surface of the outer portion and the backing of the inner portion when the spout assembly is installed on the coffee bag.

[0011] The spout protrusion may have a curved shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] These and/or other features and utilities of the present generally inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a top angled perspective exploded view of a spout assembly, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a side exploded view of the spout assembly, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and

[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the spout assembly attached to a coffee bag, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Various example embodiments (a.k.a., exemplary embodiments) will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some example embodiments are illustrated. In the figures, the thicknesses of lines, layers and/or regions may be exaggerated for clarity.

[0017] Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the figures and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure. Like numbers refer to like/similar elements throughout the detailed description.

[0018] It is understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., "between" versus "directly between," "adjacent" versus "directly adjacent," etc.).

[0019] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes" and/or "including," when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

[0020] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art. However, should the present disclosure give a specific meaning to a term deviating from a meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill, this meaning is to be taken into account in the specific context this definition is given herein.

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a top angled perspective exploded view of a spout assembly 100, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates a side exploded view of the spout assembly 100, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

[0023] The spout assembly 100, and components thereof, may be constructed from plastic, metal, rubber, and any other material known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the spout assembly 100 may include an inner portion 110 and an outer portion 120.

[0025] The inner portion 110 may include an insertion body 111, an aperture 112, an outer threaded portion 113, a gripping portion 114, and a backing 115.

[0026] The insertion body 111 may have a cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto.

[0027] The aperture 112 may be disposed within the insertion body 111, such that the aperture 112 extends through an entirety of the inner portion 110.

[0028] The outer threaded portion 113 may be disposed between the insertion body 111 and the gripping portion 114, such that the outer threaded portion 113 is disposed around an outer circumference of the inner portion 110.

[0029] The gripping portion 114 may have a square shape, a hexagonal shape, an octagonal shape, a circular shape, etc., but is not limited thereto. The gripping portion 114 may have a rough or bumpy surface to facilitate gripping thereof.

[0030] The backing 115 may be a surface disposed transversely with respect to the gripping portion 114.

[0031] The outer portion 120 may include a receiving body 121, an aperture 122, an inner threaded portion 123, a gripping portion 124, a rear surface 125, a front surface 126, and a spout protrusion 127.

[0032] The receiving body 121 may have a cylindrical shape to correspond to the insertion body 111, but is not limited thereto.

[0033] The aperture 122 may be disposed within the receiving body 121, such that the aperture 122 extends through an entirety of the outer portion 110.

[0034] The inner threaded portion 123 may be disposed within the receiving body 121, specifically around an inner circumference of the receiving body 121.

[0035] The gripping portion 124 may have a square shape, a hexagonal shape, an octagonal shape, a circular shape, etc., but is not limited thereto. The gripping portion 124 may have a rough or bumpy surface to facilitate gripping thereof.

[0036] The spout protrusion 127 may extend from a bottom portion of the front surface 126, and may have a curved shape in order to facilitate coffee pouring from the spout protrusion 127.

[0037] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the spout assembly 100 attached to a coffee bag 10, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

[0038] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a user may utilize the gripping portion 114 and the gripping portion 124 to more easily hold the inner portion 110 and the outer portion 120, when the user desires to install the spout assembly 100 onto the coffee bag 10.

[0039] In order to install the spout assembly 100 onto the coffee bag 10, the user must first open the coffee bag 10. The user may then hold the inner portion 110 inside the coffee bag 10 near a top center portion thereof with one hand, and may hold the outer portion 120 outside the coffee bag 10 with another hand, such that the insertion body 111 is aligned with the receiving body 121.

[0040] The user may then push the insertion body 111 into the receiving body 121, such that a portion of the coffee bag is pinched and caught between the insertion body 111 and the receiving body 121. When the outer threaded portion 113 reaches the inner threaded portion 123, the user may then twist the inner portion 110 (or outer portion 120, or both) in a clockwise direction, such that the coffee bag 10 is sealedly pinched between the insertion body 111 and the receiving body 121 within the aperture 122. When the rear surface 125 reaches the backing 115, such that the inner portion 110 can no longer be twisted, the portion of the coffee bag 10 is thoroughly caught between the insertion body 111 and the receiving body 121 within the aperture 122.

[0041] Subsequently, the user may use a knife to poke a hole in the portion of the coffee bag 10 disposed within the aperture 122, or may cut away and remove the portion of the coffee bag 10 disposed within the aperture 122. Accordingly, coffee within the coffee bag 10 may be poured through the aperture 112, through the aperture 122, and then out from the spout protrusion 127.

[0042] As such, the inner portion 110 may at least partially disposed within the coffee bag 10, while the outer portion 120 may be at least partially disposed outside the coffee bag 10. As such, an outer portion of the insertion body 111 may contact an inner surface of the coffee bag 10, while an inner portion of the receiving body 121 may contact an outer surface of the coffee bag 10.

[0043] A sealing gasket and/or washer (not illustrated) may be provided on or about the backing 115, or alternatively, on the rear surface 125, in order to provide a better seal when the inner portion 110 is combined with the outer portion 120. The sealing gasket may be constructed from rubber or any other material that provides a sealing effect.

[0044] As sealing cap (not illustrated) may be provided to seal the aperture 122, such that coffee inside the coffee bag 10 remains fresh. The sealing cap may include a rubber seal on an outer circumference thereof, in order to provide a better seal. Alternatively, the sealing cap may be screwed into a front portion of the outer portion 120.

[0045] The spout assembly 100 may be constructed as a pre-manufactured portion of the coffee bag 10, such that the spout assembly is not removable. As such, the out assembly may already be provided on the coffee bag 10 when the coffee bag 10 is purchased.

[0046] The spout assembly 100 is not limited to being placed on a front of the coffee bag 10, and may alternatively be placed anywhere on the coffee bag 10.

[0047] Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A spout assembly to be installed on a bag, the spout assembly comprising: an inner portion to be at least partially disposed within the bag, the inner portion comprising: an insertion body having a cylindrical shape, a gripping portion, and an outer threaded portion circumferentially disposed on the inner portion between the insertion body and the gripping portion; and an outer portion to be at least partially disposed outside the bag, the outer portion comprising: a receiving body having a cylindrical shape to receive the insertion body therein, another gripping portion, an inner threaded portion disposed within an inner circumference of the receiving body, and a spout protrusion to extend from a front surface of the receiving body, the spout protrusion comprising a non-tubular curved portion.

2. The spout assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of the bag is caught between the insertion body and the receiving body when the spout assembly is installed on the bag.

3. The spout assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner threaded portion corresponds to the outer threaded portion during installation of the spout assembly onto the bag.

4. The spout assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner portion further comprises: a backing disposed transversely with respect to the gripping portion of the inner portion.

5. The spout assembly of claim 5, wherein a portion of the bag is caught between a rear surface of the outer portion and the backing of the inner portion when the spout assembly is installed on the bag.

6. (canceled)

7. A spout assembly to be installed on a bag, the spout assembly comprising: an inner portion to be at least partially disposed within the bag, the inner portion comprising: an insertion body, and a gripping portion, and an outer threaded portion circumferentially disposed on the inner portion between the insertion body and the gripping portion; and an outer portion to be at least partially disposed outside the bag, the outer portion comprising: a receiving body to receive the insertion body therein, another gripping portion, an inner threaded portion disposed within an inner portion of the receiving body, and a spout protrusion to extend from at least one of a bottom surface and a front surface of the receiving body, the spout protrusion comprising a non-tubular curved portion.