FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See Section 10; rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION AN IMPROVED FUNNEL
APPLICANTS
TATA MOTORS LIMITED, an Indian company
having its registered office at Bombay House,
24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
INVENTORS
Todkar Vinay Hari, Magdum Hemant & Gopalkrishna K. all Indian nationals of TATA MOTORS LIMITED an Indian company having its registered office at
Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following Complete specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention is generally directed to a funnel for transferring liquids and other flowable materials from a source of supply into a tank or other container wherein the container has an opening.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
At one time or another almost every individual has had to pour fluids, such as gasoline, lubricating oil etc., from a can into a container. Normally, a conventional funnel is utilized to facilitate transfer of fluids from a reservoir to a tank to reduce spillage. Most conventional funnels are provided with a wide mouthed bowl/conical shaped receiving portion, which tapers towards a stem, which is to be inserted within the inlet opening of the receiving container. Unfortunately, means are not provided to accurately gauge the level of the fluid within the receiving tank and frequently too much liquid is introduced into the tank resulting in an overflow or spill. In some instances, overflow is an inconvenience, however though where hydrocarbon fuel is being transferred to power implements or automotive vehicles, the spill results in environmental contamination, tremendous loss of natural resources and may also result in accidental fire hazards leading to loss of human lives and property.
The transfer of fluids or flowable materials utilizing funnels is not restricted to any particular area, such as automotive equipment. Often, hazardous material such as chemicals, caustic fluids, hot liquids and the like are transferred utilizing funnels and similar devices. Spills of such material could be hazardous or
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dangerous to individuals and property. It is therefore important to provide funnels which will ensure that spillage is prevented, thereby not only reducing waste of the material being transfer but also preventing possible damage to the environment and/or injury to individuals.
Fig. I represents conventional funnel. The stem (A) and body (C) are welded at apex (B). The diameter, height of funnel and length of stem is made as per requirement. No specific proportion is prescribed between the diameter and height of the funnel and length of its stem.
U.S.657080 describes a funnel having an air tube, which is inserted into the throat of the container being filled. The air tube is configured so as to provide an audible signal as the pressure within the container changes as material is being introduced therein. Once the material reaches a certain level within the container, the airflow tube is blocked which stops the production of sound thereby indicating that the fluid has reached certain level within the container. Unfortunately, funnels of this type have complicated structures and are not conductive for dirt and other debris present in the fluid. Funnels of this type do not indicate the rate at which the fluid flows. Such flowable material is filling the container. Further, fluid inflow may take place before warning sound signals that the container is filled making it possible for entry of additional fluid into the funnel causing a possible overflow.
JP7187134 describes a funnel for informing of a full state of an oilcan, and preventing oil from overflowing. It consists of a reference scale and a float. Stem of the funnel is inserted in receiving container. The scale shows the desired
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level to be maintained. When oil reaches to the desired level a float closes the mouth of funnel by buoyant force and stops further entry of oil and excess oil remains in the funnel. This system is not foolproof. It is possible that additional fluid has already been introduced into the funnel and will pass into the container causing a possible overflow.
JP 2000238895 describes a funnel to pour liquids into a container in the state of stabilizing and prevent the formation of foam. It consists of a conical receiver formed eccentrically and connected to a stem. A cap with air vents is fixed on the stem. The air in the container escapes through vent holes of cap. The liquid remaining in the funnel is not foamed and can be transferred in the container smoothly. This invention doesn't teach anything about preventing overflowing of fluids.
OBJECTS OF INVENTION
The main object of this invention is to provide a funnel which alerts before the container in which liquid is pouring overflows.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a funnel having a facility to accommodate a fluid poured even after alert and fill in to the same container without overflowing.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a funnel having simple in construction and cost effective.
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SUMMARY OF INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved funnel comprising of a body having a non
- concentric sloping bottom sealingly mounted on at least two support members
terminating in a downwardly extending stem provided with a taper seal.
The longitudinal dimension of the said body of the funnel is equal to the
longitudinal dimension of the container to which the user wants to pour the
liquid and height of the said body is slightly less than the length of the said stem.
A ring of slightly smaller longitudinal dimensions as compared to said body is
attached to the body at its top.
At least two handles are provided on outside of said body disposed at opposite
ends.
The ring is attached to the said body by means of brackets.
The taper seal is attached to the said stem with the help of clip or suitable
adhesive.
The bottom opening of the said body is provided with a mesh to prevent entry of
foreign matters.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
The funnel body has a non concentric sloping bottom which merges near the joint of stem and body, the diameter of funnel body is equal to diameter of container to which the user want to pour the liquid and height of funnel body is slightly less than length of stem which is supposed to be put in a container during use, and the said stem is joined to said funnel body at bottom by a known joining process. The said funnel has at least two supports which are fixed at the
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bottom of funnel body to rest on container during its use, and a taper seal is firmly fixed on stem. A ring having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of funnel body is circumferentially attached to the said body at top by brackets and at least two handles are appropriately fixed on said funnel body at opposite ends.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the same
Figure 1 - Shows a conventional funnel.
Figure 2 - Shows an improved funnel in accordance with this invention.
Figure 3 - Shows an isometric view of the improved funnel.
Referring to fig.s 2 and 3 the funnel body (1) has a non concentric sloping bottom (2) which merges near the joint of stem (3) and body (1), the diameter (D2) of funnel body is equal to diameter (Dl) of container (7) to which the user want to pour the liquid and height (H) of funnel body is slightly less than length (L) of stem which is to be put in a container during use, and the said stem (3) is joined to said funnel body(l) at apex by a known joining process. The said funnel have at least two supports (5) which are attached at the bottom of funnel body to rest on container during its use, and a taper seal (4) is firmly attached on stem. A ring (9) of diameter slightly less than the diameter of funnel body (D2) is circumferentially attached to the said body at top by brackets (10) and at least two handles (8) are appropriately fixed on said funnel body at opposite ends.
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During operation, the stem of funnel is inserted in an opening of container, due to provision of seal on a stem the said seal is pressed on the opening of container because of weight of funnel, and further which prevents escape of air from container through the gap between stem and opening of container. When liquid is poured in funnel, it flows over the sloping base and to container and air present in the container escapes through the stem. Slowly the level of liquid (6) rises till it touches to the mouth (11) of stem, when the liquid touches to the mouth of stem it blocks the escape of air through the stem, because of which the additional liquid poured in the funnel cannot flows to the container but it gets accumulated in the funnel. Due to accumulation of liquid inside the funnel the person can be able to know that the container is full to the desired level and he can stop further pouring of liquid. By lifting the funnel upwards, taper seal (4) leaves its position allows trapped air to escape through the gap between stem and opening of container, because of escape of trapped air the accommodated liquid from the funnel will now enter to the container. Because of diameter of funnel body (1) is equal to the diameter of container and the length of the stem is slightly greater than height of funnel body, even if the funnel is completely filled with liquid, the container will have the facility to accommodate the whole liquid from the funnel and prevents spillage and overflowing. Due to provision of ring (9) overrun of liquid over the outer wall of funnel can be prevented.
The foregoing description is a specific embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that this embodiment is described for purpose of illustration only, and that numerous alterations and modifications may be practiced by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all such modifications and alterations be
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included insofar as they come within the scope of the invention as claimed or the equivalents thereof.

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WE CLAIM:
1) An improved funnel comprising a body (1) having a non - concentric sloping bottom (2) sealingly mounted on at least two support members (5) and terminating in a downwardly extending stem (3) provided with a taper seal (4).
2) The funnel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the longitudinal dimension of the said body (1) is equal to the longitudinal dimension of the container (7) to which the liquid is to be transferred and height of the said body (1) is slightly less than the length of said stem (3).
3) The funnel as claimed in claims 1 and 2 wherein the mouth of the funnel is provided with a ring (9) slightly smaller than the longitudinal dimension of the said body (1).
4) The funnel as claimed in claims 1 to 3 wherein at least two handles (8) are provided on outside of said body at opposite ends.
5) The funnel as claimed in claim 3 wherein said ring (9) is attached to the said body (1) by means of brackets (10).
6) The funnel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said taper seal (4) is attached to the said stem (3) by known means.
7) The funnel as claimed in claims 1 to 6 wherein a mesh is provided at the bottom of the said body to prevent entry of foreign matters.
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8) The funnel substantially as herein described with reference to figs. 2&3 of the accompanying drawings.

Dated this 6th day of March 2007

TATA MOTORS LIMITED
By their Agent and Attorney
(KARUNA GOLERIA)
of DePENNING & DePENNING
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ABSTRACT Title: An Improved Funnel
This invention relates to a funnel comprising a body, which has a non concentric sloping bottom which merges near the joint of stem and body, the diameter of funnel body is equal to diameter of container to which the user wants to pour the liquid and height of funnel body is slightly less than length of stem which is supposed to be put in a container during use, and the said stem is joined to said funnel body at bottom by a known joining process. The said funnel has at least two supports which are fixed at the bottom of funnel body to rest on container during its use, and a taper seal is firmly fixed on stem. A ring of diameter slightly less than the diameter of funnel body is circumferentially attached to the said body at top by brackets and at least two handles are appropriately fixed on said funnel body at opposite ends.
FIGURE 2 SHOWSIMRPOVED FUNNELIN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS INVENTION
Fig.2