Translator's Certificate I, T. .. a .. uy a.. .. .. d.o ........................................................................................................................ I, Takuy Ando of 13-I , lizuka.2 cho.m..e .Kawaguc.h.ih ... Sai.ta...a Ja.an...................... State as follows: 1. [ am conversant with the English and Japanese languages. 2. To the best of my knowledge and belief the attached document is a true and correct translation into English made by me of: International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2006/304094 Dated this 2.... 5 ... day of .......... ep.te.m r ... ..... 2007 (Signature of translator) SPECIFICATION [TITLE OF THE INVENTION] SPOUT FITTING APPARATUS AND CONTAINER 5 [TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION] [0001] The present invention relates to a spout fitting apparatus and a container having its spout shaped like a spout fitting apparatus, especially a spout fitting apparatus that can be easily attached to a container, such as a plastic bottle or other bottle. 10 [BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION] [0002] When pouring out the fluid from a container, such as a plastic bottle, another type of bottle or a can, the inside of the container is under negative pressure since the 15 spout of the container is filled with the fluid because of the width of the spout and the viscosity of the fluid itself, when the fluid flows from the container. For the above mentioned reason, once the flowing of the fluid stops, the container takes in air of the same volume as the fluid discharged from the container. Because such a phenomenon occurs repeatedly, the fluid flows out of the container little by little. This phenomenon is 20 called a "Hiccup phenomenon". When "Hiccup phenomenon" occurs, it takes much time to pour the fluid from the container and, also, the fluid flowing from the container spatters and splashes. It may spoil the area surrounding the container. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, Japanese patent publication 25 number "JP2005-41570" (hereafter called Patent document 1) discloses a method of maintaining an airflow path by inserting a straw into an instrument, which can hold the straw, the instrument being attached to the spout of a plastic bottle or other type of bottle. 30 Further, Japanese patent publication number "JP2002-249138" (hereafter called Patent document 2) discloses that an attachment attached to the inside of the spout or neck of the spout of a bottle is fitted to a pipe which connects the air trap in 1 the bottle to an area within a 3 cm radius of the spout, where the bottle is a plastic bottle or a glass bottle. [Patent document 1] JP2005-041570 [Patent document 2] JP2002-249138 5 [DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION] [OBJECT OF THE INVENTION] [0003] 10 However, in Patent document 1 of the prior art listed above, which discloses an instrument that holds a straw in order to maintain an airflow path from the inside of the container, there is a deficiency in that the instrument can easily become detached when the attached straw begins to direct the fluid from the container. 15 In addition, in Patent document 2 which discloses an attachment attached to the inside of the spout, or neck of the spout, of a bottle and which is fitted to a pipe that connects the air trap in the bottle to an area within a 3 cm radius of the spout, where the bottle is a plastic bottle or a glass bottle, there is a deficiency in that an original cap is not able to be used as a closure if its stopper is too big to fit into the 20 spout. On the other hand, there is a deficiency in that the stopper can fall into the container if the size of the stopper is smaller than that of the spout. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a spout fitting apparatus which is very easy to attach to the spout of a container such as a plastic bottle or 25 other bottle without falling into the container and a container having an integral spout fitting apparatus of similar construction, wherein a consumer can use an original cap of the plastic bottle or other bottle as a closure, and wherein, by attaching the spout fitting apparatus to the spout of the container, the fluid flows smoothly without Hick-up phenomenon occurring when the fluid flows from the 30 container, so as to prevent the spattering of the fluid around the container. 2 [SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION] [0004] To solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention set forth in claim 1 is characterized by a spout fitting apparatus attached to an opening of a container such 5 as a plastic bottle or other bottle, the apparatus comprising: a locking portion locking onto the spout of the container, a falling-prevention stopper provided at an upper edge of the locking portion, a partition wall joined to the locking portion and separating a fluid outflow path extending from the inside of the container, and an air inflow conduit extending from the opening, on the air inflow conduit side of the partition wall and 10 connecting the opening to the inside of the container, wherein the spout fitting apparatus is fixed easily to the spout of the container such as a plastic bottle or other bottle. [0005] To solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention set forth in claim 15 2 is characterized by the spout fitting apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the locking portion engages an area of the inner wall of the spout of the container, the area extending over more than half of the circumference of the spout, the locking portion exerting an elastic force on the inner wall of the spout. 20 [0006] To solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention set forth in claim 3 is characterized by the spout fitting apparatus in accordance with claims 1 or 2, wherein the air inflow conduit curves along the contour of the inside of the container, and a head of the air inflow conduit extends to a shoulder part of the container. 25 [0007] To solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention set forth in claim 4 is characterized by the spout fitting apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein an opening in the head of the air inflow conduit is angled to face to the 30 inner wall of the container. 3 [0008] To solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention set forth in claim 5 is characterized by a container, such as a plastic bottle or other bottle, having a spout, the container comprising: a partition wall connected to the spout of 5 the container and separating an outflow path for the fluid from the inside of the container from an inflow path for air from the outside of the container, and an air inflow conduit extending from the opening of the container on the air inflow conduit side of the partition wall and connecting the opening to the inside of the container. 10 [EFFECT OF THE INVENTION] [0009] According to the present invention, the spout fitting apparatus is designed as described in the above explanation, and it is very easy to attach to the spout of a 15 container such as a plastic bottle or other bottle without it falling into the container and, where the container is a plastic bottle or other bottle, a consumer can use the original cap of the bottle as a closure. By attaching the spout fitting apparatus to the spout of the container, the fluid flows smoothly without hick-up phenomenon occurring when the fluid is poured from the container, so as to prevent spattering of 20 the fluid. Further, according to the present invention, since the spout fitting apparatus is designed as described in the above explanation, the fluid flows smoothly without hick-up phenomenon occurring when the fluid is poured from the container with the 25 pouring part located upwards, so as to prevent spattering of the fluid. [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] [0010] Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the "Spout fitting apparatus" of the 30 present invention. 4 Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view "Spout fitting apparatus" of the present invention attached to the spout of a container, such as a plastic bottle or other bottle, with fluid pouring from the spout. 5 ([DESCRIPTION OF NUMERALS] [0011] 1 Locking portion 2 Falling-prevention stopper 3 Partition wall 4 Air inflow conduit 10 Spout fitting apparatus 20 Container 21 Spout 22 Shoulder [BEST MODE OF CARRTING OUT THE INVENTION] [0012] 10 The present invention will be explained hereunder in detail based upon examples with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the "Spout fitting apparatus" of the present invention and Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the "Spout fitting 15 apparatus" of the present invention attached to the spout of the container, such as a plastic bottle or other bottle, with fluid pouring from the spout. As shown in Figs. 1 and Fig. 2, a spout fitting apparatus 10 of the present invention consists of locking portion 1, falling-prevention stopper 2, partition wal 3 and 20 air inflow conduit 4. The container 20, which is typically a plastic bottle or other bottle, consists of spout 21 and shoulder 22. [0013] 5 In the present invention, the locking portion 1 of the spout fitting apparatus 10 comprises a tubular vertical part that can be inserted into the spout 21 of the container 20 and that can exert an elastic force on the inner wall of the spout 21. Therefore, the spout fitting apparatus can be easily attached to container spouts of 5 various sizes. The locking portion 1 of the spout fitting apparatus 10 engages an area of the inner wall of the spout 21 of the container 20, this area extending over more than half of the circumference of the spout 21 when the locking portion 1 is inserted into the spout 21 of the container 20. 10 The falling-prevention stopper 2 is provided at the upper edge of the locking portion 1. When the looking portion 1 is inserted into the spout 21 of the container 20, the falling-prevention stopper 2 is abuts the upper edge of the spout 21 so that the spout fitting apparatus does not fall into the container 20. 15 [0014] The partition wall 3 is formed in the locking portion 1 in order to separate an outflow path for the fluid from the inside of the container 20 from an inflow path for air from the outside of the container 20, and the air inflow conduit 4 extends inside the container 20 on the air inflow side. The air inflow conduit 4 curves along 20 the contour of the inside of the container 20, and the head of the air inflow conduit 4 extends to the shoulder part of the container 20. The opening of the head of the air inflow conduit 4 is cut crosswise in order to face towards the inner wall of the container 20 so that inflowing of air from the outside to the shoulder 22 is performed easily. Although the partition wall 3 does have a predetermined 25 curvature and is adjacent to the locking portion 1, it avoids becoming an obstacle by bending easily even if the diameter of the spout 21 of the container 20 is small. [0015] If the spout fitting apparatus 10 is positioned upwardly as the fluid inside of the 30 container 20 is poured out, with the spout fitting apparatus 10 being inserted in the spout 21 of the container 20 and the locking portion 1 abutting the upper edge of the spout 21, the air enters the container 20 through the air inflow conduit 4 along the air 6 inflow path which is located above the upper side of the partition wall 3 and the fluid inside of the container flows out continuously along the lower side of the partition wall 3. Therefore, the flow of the fluid is stable and the hiccup phenomenon does not occur so that the fluid flows out smoothly without spattering. 5 [0016] When the spout fitting apparatus 10 is attached to the container 20, most of the spout fitting apparatus 10 is located within the container 20 except for the falling prevention stopper 2 which constitutes only a small part due to its thickness. Therefore, 10 after attaching the spout fitting apparatus 10 to the spout 21, it does not constitute an obstacle so that the original cap of the container can be used unchanged. [0017] In the present invention, the spout fitting apparatus can be formed from 15 thermoplastics, such as polyethylene, polystyrene, and nylon. The locking portion 1 has elasticity and the spout fitting apparatus is of a suitable length. Therefore, it is adapted to fit spouts 21 of various diameters, and can be used with various containers 20. [0018] 20 According to the construction of the "spout fitting apparatus 10" of the present invention, designed as described above, by attaching the spout fitting apparatus 10 to the spout 21 of the container 20, the fluid flows smoothly without hick-up phenomenon occurring when the fluid is poured from the container 20, so as to prevent spattering of the fluid, and it does not take much time to pour the fluid from the container 20. 25 According to the present invention, the locking portion 1 has elasticity and the spout fitting apparatus is of a suitable length. Therefore, it is adapted to fit spouts 21 of various diameters, and can be used with various containers 20. In addition, the falling-prevention stopper 2 ensures that the spout fitting apparatus 30 does not fall into the container 20. In addition, most of the spout fitting apparatus 10 is located in the container 20 except for the falling-prevention stopper 2 which constitutes only a small part due to its thickness so that it does not constitute an 7 obstacle, so that the original cap can be used unchanged. Further, the spout fitting apparatus weighs very little and can be manufactured at low cost. Therefore, there is no substantial burden to the user in attaching the spout fitting apparatus to a plastic bottle or other bottle. 5 [0019] Although the above explanation describes the spout fitting apparatus, if the structure of the spout of a container is the same as that of the spout fitting apparatus and is formed integrally during manufacture, the container also has the 10 same effect as that of the spout fitting apparatus. The above-mentioned construction can be manufactured easily by using thermoplastic resin etc. and a die. Therefore, it is not expensive considering the structure of the spout fitting apparatus and that large-scale production will be possible. 15 [INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY] [0020] The "Spout fitting apparatus and container" according to the present invention can be used for a plastic bottle including a bottle containing water, fruit juice, fluid seasoning, oil, paint, fluid detergent, and medicine, and the container of 20 this invention can be used in a wide range of industrial fields. 8