U.S. patent application number 10/195479 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-16 for plastic massage bottle.
Invention is credited to Dong, In Sup, Kim, Young Soo, Lee, Jeong Heun, Ma, Ki Hyung, Yong, Sung Lyoul.
Application Number | 20030010744 10/195479 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27350496 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030010744 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ma, Ki Hyung ; et
al. |
January 16, 2003 |
Plastic massage bottle
Abstract
A plastic massage bottle has a neck portion with a mouth
openably closed by a cap, a shoulder portion extending from the
neck portion, a bottom portion, and a body portion interconnecting
the shoulder portion and the bottom portion. The body portion is
formed with a thickness of 0.1 to 0.6mm so that the body portion
can be subjected to elastic deformation in the event of the massage
bottle being tapped on or pressed against a human body. The body
portion includes a plurality of pressure massage protrusions so
shaped and arranged that they can make contact with and apply
massage pressure to a multiplicity of discrete, adjoining points of
the human body as the bottle is tapped on or pressed against the
human body. Massage-aiding fluid is at least partially filled in
the bottle for generating kinetic energy in response to the tapping
or pressing motion of the bottle.
Inventors: |
Ma, Ki Hyung; (Gyeonggi-do,
KR) ; Yong, Sung Lyoul; (Seoul, KR) ; Dong, In
Sup; (Seoul, KR) ; Kim, Young Soo;
(Gyeonggi-do, KR) ; Lee, Jeong Heun; (Seoul,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BURNS DOANE SWECKER & MATHIS L L P
POST OFFICE BOX 1404
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22313-1404
US
|
Family ID: |
27350496 |
Appl. No.: |
10/195479 |
Filed: |
July 16, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/382 ;
220/669 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 1/44 20130101; A61H
2015/0014 20130101; B65D 81/36 20130101; A61H 23/06 20130101; A61H
15/0092 20130101; B65D 1/0223 20130101; A61H 2201/169 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/382 ;
220/669 |
International
Class: |
B65D 090/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 16, 2001 |
KR |
2001-42978 |
Aug 25, 2001 |
KR |
2001-51614 |
Jun 7, 2002 |
KR |
2002-32115 |
Claims
1. A plastic massage bottle comprising: a neck portion with a mouth
openably closed by a cap; a shoulder portion extending from the
neck portion; a bottom portion; and a body portion interconnecting
the shoulder portion and the bottom portion and at least partially
filled with fluid capable of generating kinetic energy in response
to motion of the bottle, the body portion having a thickness small
enough to allow elastic deformation of the body portion in the
event of the massage bottle being tapped on or pressed against a
human body but great enough to normally keep the structural
integrity of the bottle, the body portion including a pressure
massage means so shaped and arranged that the massage means can
make contact with and apply massage pressure to a multiplicity of
discrete, adjoining points of the human body as the bottle is
tapped on or pressed against the human body.
2. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the
thickness of the body portion ranges from 0.1 to 0.6 mm.
3. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 2, wherein the
thickness of the body portion ranges from 0.1 to 0.4 mm.
4. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the
pressure massage means comprises a plurality of spaced-apart
massage protrusions integrally formed with and outwardly extending
from the body portion.
5. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the
pressure massage means comprises a plurality of generally
volcano-shaped massage protrusions each having an inwardly
directing root section and an outwardly protruding volcano
section.
6. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the
pressure massage means comprises a plurality of generally
pyramid-shaped massage protrusions arranged on the body portion in
a predetermined pattern.
7. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the
pressure massage means comprises a plurality of elastically
deformable massage protrusions fixedly secured to an outer surface
of the body portion.
8. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the
pressure massage means comprises a wraparound sheet separably
attached to an outer surface of the body portion and having at one
side a plurality of spaced-apart massage protrusions formed
integrally therewith.
9. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 8, wherein the
wraparound sheet has a pattern for advertisement printed in a
preselected letter, symbol and mark.
10. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the
pressure massage means comprises an attachment sheet separably
attached to an outer surface of the body portion and having at one
side a plurality of spaced-apart massage protrusions.
11. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 10, wherein the
attachment sheet has a peelable release paper initially adhered
thereto by means of adhesive in such a manner that the release
paper can be peeled off when the attachment sheet is in use.
12. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 10, wherein the
attachment sheet has a pattern for advertisement printed in a
preselected letter, symbol and mark.
13. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the
shoulder portion comprises a plurality of spaced-apart, outwardly
directing massage protrusions.
14. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the
shoulder portion comprises a plurality of elastically deformable
massage protrusions fixedly secured to an outer surface of the
shoulder portion.
15. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 4, wherein the
spaced-apart massage protrusions are formed at a spacing of 5.0 to
25.0 mm and with a height of 2.0 to 10.0 mm.
16. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 4, wherein the
spaced-apart massage protrusions are formed at an equal spacing on
an entire surface of the body portion excluding a label attachment
area.
17. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 4, wherein the
spaced-apart massage protrusions are arranged in a preselected
pattern, letter, symbol and mark.
18. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 4, wherein the
body portion has an inwardly curved waist, the massage protrusions
arranged on the inwardly curved waist.
19. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 4, wherein each
of the spaced-apart massage protrusions has a shape selected from
the group consisting of hemisphere, cone and pyramid.
20. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, further
comprising a handgrip portion provided between the neck portion and
the shoulder portion.
21. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 21, wherein the
handgrip portion comprises a plurality of spaced-apart massage
protrusions integrally formed with and outwardly extending from the
body portion.
22. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 21, wherein each
of the spaced-apart massage protrusions has a shape selected from
the group consisting of hemisphere, cone and pyramid.
23. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 4, wherein the
pressure massage means comprises a double volcano-shaped massage
protrusions each having an inwardly directing root section and an
outwardly protruding volcano section with a middle step of annular
configuration.
24. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 4, wherein each
of the spaced-apart massage protrusions has a top cushion
member
25. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the
bottle is formed of a substance selected from the group consisting
of polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene.
26. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the
bottle is selected from the group consisting of a normal pressure
bottle, a presure-resistant bottle, a heat-resistant bottle and a
pressure/heat-resistant bottle.
27. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the
fluid filled in the bottle comprises beverage.
28. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the
body portion has a cross-sectional shape selected from the group
consisting of a circle, an ellipse, a square and a rectangle.
29. A plastic massage bottle comprising: a neck portion with a
mouth openably closed by a cap; a shoulder portion extending from
the neck portion; a bottom portion; and a body portion
interconnecting the shoulder portion and the bottom portion, the
body portion having a thickness of 0.1 to 0.6 mm so that the body
portion can be subjected to elastic deformation in the event of the
massage bottle being tapped on or pressed against a human body, the
body portion including a pressure massage means so shaped and
arranged that the massage means can make contact with and apply
massage pressure to a multiplicity of discrete, adjoining points of
the human body as the bottle is tapped on or pressed against the
human body.
30. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 29, further
comprising massage-aiding fluid at least partially filled in the
bottle for generating kinetic energy in response to the tapping or
pressing motion of the bottle.
31. A plastic massage bottle comprising: a neck portion with a
mouth openably closed by a cap; a bottom portion; and a body
portion interconnecting the neck portion and the bottom portion,
the body portion having a thickness of 0.1 to 0.6 mm so that the
body portion can be subjected to elastic deformation in the event
of the massage bottle being tapped on or pressed against a human
body, the body portion including a pressure massage means so shaped
and arranged that the massage means can make contact with and apply
massage pressure to a multiplicity of discrete, adjoining points of
the human body as the bottle is tapped on or pressed against the
human body.
32. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 31, wherein the
body portion has a cross-sectional area gradually increasing as it
comes away from the neck portion.
33. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 31, further
comprising massage-aiding fluid at least partially filled in the
bottle for generating kinetic energy in response to the tapping or
pressing motion of the bottle.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a plastic bottle, and more
particularly to a plastic massage bottle utilizable as a massage
tool that includes a body portion at least partially filled with
fluid capable of generating kinetic energy and having a thickness
small enough to allow elastic deformation in the event of the
massage bottle being tapped on or pressed against a human body and
pressure massage protrusions formed on the body portion with such a
shape and arrangement as to apply massage pressure to discrete and
adjacent points of the human body as the bottle is tapped on or
pressed against the human body.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Synthetic resin bottles usually produced by way of a blow
molding technique and used to contain foods or drinks are made of
thermoplastic synthetic resin such as polyethylene
terephthalate(PET), polyethylene(PE) or polypropylene (PP). For the
sake of explanation, such synthetic resin bottles will be generally
referred to as a "plastic bottle" hereinbelow.
[0005] The plastic bottle is widely used as a substitution for a
glass bottle and a metal can mainly because it is hardly broken and
easily treated, and for the very reason, the consumption of the
plastic bottle continues to increase in the field of food and drink
industry. In recent, a PET bottle for the storage of beer with
improved blocking function is developed in the United States,
Europe and Japan, and is applied to a wider spectrum of use.
[0006] Particularly, the PET bottle is friendly to environments
since it is harmless to human body, capable of being recycled and
not generating toxic substance in the course of incineration. The
PET bottle is also excellent in blocking gas such as carbon dioxide
and oxygen, thus assuring that the fluid in the PET bottle can be
kept fresh for a prolonged period of time. In addition, the PET
bottle is of lightweight nature, exhibits good strength and
rigidity, and provides excellent resealability, moldability and
transparency in comparison with a glass bottle or a metal can.
[0007] The PET bottle can be classified into several types
depending on the internal pressure exerted on the bottle after the
bottle is filled with contents.
[0008] Namely, there are a normal pressure bottle into which
contents are filled at normal pressure and mainly used to contain
mineral water, soy sauce, cooking oil, raw rice wine and foods; a
pressure resistant bottle having an internal pressure higher than a
normal pressure when contents are filled thereinto and used to
contain mainly carbonated water such as coke or pop; a heat and
pressure resistant bottle which permits thermal sterilization of
low-carbonic water by heat and used to contain milk, soda water or
barley soda water; and a heat resistance bottle which is capable of
hot filling at about 85.about.95.degree. C. and used to contain
fruit juice, cocktail, tea, coffee, isotonic drink and so on.
[0009] Most purchasers of plastic bottle products for foodstuffs or
drink have a tendency to just throw away the used plastic bottles
after eating or drinking the contents, which leads to waste of
useful resources and poses great difficulty in garbage disposal due
to the big size of the bottles themselves. Collecting and recycling
the plastic bottles is also disadvantageous in the aspect of
equipment and cost therefor. This is why the plastic bottles are
hardly recycled nowadays and has a limited usage as a bottle for
containing water.
[0010] The inventors have found that the plastic bottle can be used
as a massage tool if fluid is appropriately filled in the bottle
after its contents are drunk or used, and thus developed a plastic
massage bottle which can be reused as a massage tool which gives
useful massage effects either by tapping and pressing the human
body with the use of the bottle or kneading and scrubbing the
bottle by hands.
[0011] Prior art search made by the inventors has revealed various
types of prior art references as cited and briefly set forth
below.
[0012] First Type of Prior Art
[0013] As for a plastic bottle for foods and drinks made by blow
molding, there are Korean Design Registration Nos. 192887 and
194598; U.S. Design Pat. Nos. D.369,556, D.395,826, D.411,457,
D.411,740 and D.448,677; and, U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,730. These
references suggest a plastic bottle having an approximately diamond
panel-shaped pattern provided on all or a part of the outer surface
of a body portion.
[0014] As another prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,826 discloses a
collapsible container in which diamond-type panels are suitably
formed on an outer surface of a body portion of the container for
the purpose of lessening release or loss of gas from carbonated
water. The container can be bent and collapsed along the
diamond-type panels to reduce its volume.
[0015] The diamond patterns employed in this type of bottles and
containers are just for aesthetic purpose or mechanical strength
enhancement or collapsibility improvement and not for massage
effects.
[0016] Second Type of Prior Art
[0017] There have been proposed techniques whereby brush, comb or
massage protrusions are integrally formed on a bottle or a plastic
container.
[0018] For example, U.S. Design Pat. No. D.264,181 discloses a
bottle in which brushes are integrally formed on an outer surface
of a body portion of the bottle. U.S. Design Pat. No. D.251,826
teaches a bottle in which comb pattern and massage protrusions are
integrally formed on both sides of a body portion of the bottle.
Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. H10-248634 shows a hair
trimming container having a plurality of long leg protrusions
formed in a cone shape to one outer surface of a body portion or to
a cap of a plastic container so that the long leg protrusions may
stir and wash hair with bubbles generated by shampoo and stimulate
the head skin to give massage effect. U.S. Pat. No. 3,011,499
discloses a multi-purpose container having a function of comb and
brush as in Japanese Publication No. H10-248634.
[0019] The conventional techniques of the second type give limited
effects of giving head skin massage by scrubbing or pressing the
container on the head skin when washing the hair.
[0020] Third Type of Prior Art
[0021] U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,272 discloses a multi-purpose container
and cap structure having a massage device, which allows a massagist
to fill and carry perfume or chemicals therein. Since hemispherical
protrusions are formed at a lower surface of the container and the
cap has a pointed tip, the massagist rolls or press the container
in contact with the skin of a patient, so giving two massage
effects.
[0022] Korean Utility Registration No. 72164 shows a massage tool
used as a cosmetics container and Japanese Patent Laid-open
Publication No. H11-309081 discloses a push device for a container.
According to these references, a handle is formed to one side of a
body portion of the container so that the user may grasp it with
one hand and a plurality of hemispherical protrusions are formed at
the other side so as to give friction or massage effects when
scrubbed or pressed against a human body.
[0023] The prior art products in this third type allow the user to
massage his or her body in a so-called static manner, thus
significantly limiting massage effects.
[0024] Fourth Type of Prior Art
[0025] Korean Design Registration No. 149790 and Korean Utility
Model Laid-open Publication No. 94-26707 are directed to a glass
bottle having protruded needles. In these references, a plurality
of pointed needles are formed on a body portion of the glass bottle
so that the protruded needles may stimulate suitable spots on the
palm as the user grasps the bottle, thereby giving hand acupuncture
effects popular in Korea.
[0026] Although fourth type of prior art allows the user to get
hand acupuncture effects, the kinetic energy of the glass bottle is
entirely transferred to the human body with unbearable pains as the
user is tapping his or her body with the glass bottle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0027] The present invention has been conceived to solve the
problems inherent in the afore-cited prior art references, and it
is a primary object of the invention to provide a plastic massage
bottle that can provide water cushion effects to thereby absorb a
substantial part of the striking energy of the bottle and enable
the human body to be massaged softly but efficiently without
pains.
[0028] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
plastic massage bottle which can make it possible to perform
various types of massage by adjusting the amount of the fluid
filled in the bottle.
[0029] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
plastic massage bottle which may give refreshing massage effects by
refreshinging medium filled into the bottle and the smashing sound
generated in the tapping motion of the bottle.
[0030] A still further object of the present invention is to
provide a plastic massage bottle which has an improved utility as a
massage tool during and after its use.
[0031] A yet still further object of the present invention is to
provide a plastic massage bottle which can give optical decoration
effects by use of refraction of the light beam passing through the
bottle.
[0032] A yet still further important object of the present
invention is to provide a plastic massage bottle which can
significantly improves buckling strength and internal pressure
resistance of the bottle.
[0033] The objects noted above can be accomplished by the plastic
massage bottle according to the present invention, the massage
principle of which is described below.
[0034] When an object is struck by another one, the striking energy
is determined by the mass and speed of the striker. In case of a
massage tool, the striking force tends to concentrate on a local
portion of the human body due mainly to the reduced contact area of
the massage tool with the human body. This means that a
consideration in functional aspect should be given not to cause any
injury or pain to the human body. In other words, when the human
body is struck with the massage tool by normal force, the massage
tool itself should preferably absorb the striking energy, thus
minimizing the physical force transferred to the human body.
[0035] The striking energy generated by crash of two objects is
converted into another type of energy such as deformation,
destruction, sound, vibration or heat energy and will then
disappear soon.
[0036] Turning to the present invention, as the plastic bottle is
struck to the human body, the fluid in the body portion of the
bottle is instantly surged and the body portion is elastically
deformed so that the plastic bottle can absorb the striking energy
through the interaction of the fluid surging behavior and the
elastic deformation. Thus, the massaging effects is maximized by
the initial striking energy applied to the human body and, the
striking energy is hardly transferred to the human body due to a
so-called water cushion.
[0037] The inventive plastic massage bottle filled with fluid has
relatively high striking energy, when moved speedily, owing to the
great mass of the fluid and thus helps increase the effect of
massaging the human body. The plastic massage bottle of the present
invention is desirably produced by thermoplastic synthetic resin
with a suitable degree of elasticity such as polyethylene,
polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene.
[0038] In the process of massage by striking the human body with
the plastic bottle, dynamic behavior of the fluid is generated in
the airtight plastic bottle due to the instantaneous surge, and
then transferred to the body portion of the bottle. This will cause
repeated elastic deformation of the body portion, thus performing a
varying level of massage with respect to the human body. At this
time, owing to the combined action of the kinetic energy generated
by instantaneous surge of the fluid in the plastic bottle just
after crash with the human body and the elastic deformation energy
of the body portion, most of the striking energy is not delivered
to the human body and absorbed by the body portion of the bottle
itself, which assures excellent massage no or little pain. For this
purpose, it is important to make the body portion of the plastic
bottle as thin as possible.
[0039] Elastic force of an object is determined by strain energy.
Thus, such object as metal, glass and wood with high rigidity and
strength cannot absorb the striking energy by its own deformation
and this striking energy is entirely transferred to the human body
with accompanying pain. This is not a massage but a flogging, so
there exists a need for a mechanical damping device.
[0040] The body portion of the plastic bottle according to the
present invention should have a thickness of 0.1 mm.about.0.6 mm,
preferably 0.1 mm.about.0.4 mm, which can be varied depending on
the strength of the material employed and the capacity of the
plastic bottle. Nearer to the thickness of 0.1 mm, the striking
energy of the fluid is better absorbed in the body portion. Nearer
to the thickness of 0.6 mm, on the while, the absorption of the
striking energy of the fluid becomes worse.
[0041] If the thickness of the body portion is over 0.6 mm, the
elastic deformation of the body portion is significantly
deteriorated and, therefore, the user would feel painful when the
plastic bottle is struck on his or her body.
[0042] If the thickness of the body portion is less than 0.1 mm,
the striking energy of the fluid is well absorbed by the bottle but
the elastic restoring force of the body portion is decreased,
thereby deteriorating the massage effect, lessening the buckling
strength and increasing the possibility of breakdown.
[0043] As described above, the plastic bottle of the present
invention has suitable elasticity which is defined as follows on
the basis of the material dynamics:
E=P/ l.sup.2.div..DELTA.l/l
[0044] wherein E: elastic modulus or elasticity, P: force, l.sup.2:
sectional area of material, .DELTA.l: difference of length after
deformed, and l: original length of material.
[0045] This equation indicates that the stress is proportional to
the strain. In case of a plastic bottle having a reduced thickness,
there may be such an instance where the plastic bottle is collapsed
and then not restored when pressed forcibly. This is because the
force has exceeded the yield strength by which the strain remains
proportional to the strain.
[0046] However, if the plastic bottle is filled with fluid and
sealed by a cap, the plastic bottle is easily restored even after
deformed by excessive force, which self-restoring action shall be
contributable to the internal pressure preserving tendency of the
bottle and the gravitational force exerting on the fluid
itself.
[0047] This self-restoring action can be equally observed in most
kinds of fluid including beverage, portable water, juice, alcohol,
oil and milk which have the specific weight of 0.6.about.1.5. Use
of the fluid with increased specific weight makes it possible to
freely adjust the massage effect by controlling the striking speed
and the fluid amount.
[0048] Described below is the mechanism of absorbing the striking
energy when a plastic bottle filled with fluid and closed by a cap
is used as a massage tool:
[0049] ( ) Generation of deformation energy of the plastic bottle
itself including, a) the energy required for elastic deformation of
the pressure massage protrusions, b) the energy required for
deformation of the body portion itself, and c) the vibration energy
generated by repetition of deformation mentioned in items a) and
b).
[0050] ( ) Generation of kinetic energy of the fluid in the plastic
bottle including, a) the kinetic energy due to the behavior of the
fluid directly lo transferred from the plastic bottle, b) the
kinetic energy due to the surge of the fluid, c) the kinetic energy
caused by the movement of the fluid due to the elastic deformation
of the body portion, and d) the kinetic energy caused by the
combined action of the behaviors noted in items a), b) and c).
[0051] In the present invention, most of the striking energy is
offset and absorbed by the bottle body portion immediately after
the kinetic energy of (i) and (ii) is generated, and therefore the
massage effect is delicately adjusted by the pressure massage
protrusions of (i).
[0052] Also in the present invention, the kinetic energy of the
fluid generated by the striking action is converted into the
instantaneous increase of local pressure through the pressure
massage protrusions and then transferred to the human body. At this
moment, the individual pressing point is broadened due to
compression of the pressure massage protrusions as the protrusions
are brought into contact with the human body.
[0053] Accordingly, repulsive force is generated to deform the body
portion so that the deformation force can be converted into the
kinetic energy of the fluid in the bottle. This assures that the
instantaneous pressing force applied to the human body is
substantially decreased, thus giving refreshing massage effect on
the human body with no or little pain.
[0054] In the meantime, the inventors have found through repetitive
experiments that a bottle weighing less than 1 kg is suitable for
conducting the massage by striking the human body with the bottle,
and thus it is preferred that a plastic bottle with capacity of
less than 1 lit is used as a striking massage tool.
[0055] Big plastic bottles of 1.5 lit, 1.8 lit or 2 lit capacity
are useful for a rolling massage tool inasmuch as they are too
heavy to be used as the striking massage tool. A plastic bottle
with less than 11 it capacity may be used as a pressing massage
tool which gives massage effect as it is tampered with hands or
scrubbed with palms. In this type of pressing massage bottle, the
shape of the pressure massage protrusions and the body portion can
be appropriately changed to maximize the massage effect.
[0056] In the striking type massage bottle, massage protrusions can
be formed on a shoulder portion between a neck portion and the body
portion. Thus, the user may obtain massage effect on his or her
palm by simply grasping the shoulder portion. The shoulder portion
should have such a diameter and length that permits the user to
grasp the bottle with ease. It is also desirable that the shoulder
portion should be curved or sloped so as to assure gentle change of
the cross sectional area.
[0057] A handle portion may be added by extending the shoulder
portion between the neck portion and the body portion. It would be
also possible to form massage protrusions on the handle so that the
user can enjoy massage of his or her own palm.
[0058] The pressure massage protrusions formed on the body portion
can be shaped into a hemisphere, cone or pyramid. The spacing and
height of the pressure massage protrusions are determined in
consideration of moldability and intrinsic massage ability of the
material in such a manner that, when conducting massage, the skin
of the human body is kept out of contact with the outer surface of
the body portion. If the height of the pressure massage protrusions
is too low, the human body will make intimate contact with the
outer surface of the body portion as well as the pressure massage
protrusions, thereby reducing the massage effects to a great
extent.
[0059] The local pressure massage effect is increased if the
pressure massage protrusions are formed to have a pointed tip. In
case where the pressure massage protrusions are formed in a dual
stage or multiple stage volcano configuration, the base area of the
protrusions is capable of elastic deformation with ease, thus
increasing the striking energy absorbing ability of the plastic
bottle and improving the massage effect.
[0060] If the pressure massage protrusions are too closely
arranged, elastic deformation and subsequent restoration of the
body portion will be hindered, which leads to painful and
inefficient massaging operation. The closely arranged protrusions
may also have an adverse effect to the moldability and
releasability of the bottle from a forming mold. On the other hand,
if the pressure massage protrusions are arranged in a wider spacing
with each other, the pressure applying points will be dispersed far
away, eventually deteriorating the effect of massage.
[0061] As described above, the pressure massage protrusions formed
on the outer surface of the body portion should be shaped and
arranged so as to make contact with the human body and then apply
massage pressure to a multiplicity of discrete and adjacent areas
of the human skin when the bottle is tapped on or pressed against
the human body. Preferably, the pressure massage protrusions are
spaced apart at a spacing of 5.0.about.25.0 mm and with a height of
2.0.about.10.0 mm. Spacing and height of the massage protrusions
formed on the shoulder portion is made preferably equal to that of
the pressure massage protrusions of the body portion.
[0062] In order to produce the plastic bottle by blow molding, use
is made of a 2-part mold, 3-part mold or multiple part mold
depending on the size and shape of the bottle to be produced.
Accordingly, the shape, height and angle of the pressure massage
protrusions should be taken into account in designing a bottle mold
so that the pressure massage protrusions of the body portion can be
formed with the use of a 2-part mold or 3-part mold. In addition,
the pressure massage protrusions should not be formed near a mold
parting line of the body portion in an effort to improve the
moldability and releasability of the bottle.
[0063] The amount of the fluid filled in the plastic bottle for
striking massage is preferably 30%.about.90% of the volume of the
bottle. If the fluid amount is less than 30%, the striking energy
due to behavior of the fluid becomes too small. If the fluid amount
is more than 90%, the internal air compression amount, when the
bottle is struck, is decreased while the rigidity of the plastic
bottle itself is increased. In this case, the pressure massage
protrusions fail to play their role and a great magnitude of
striking energy is applied to the human body, causing pain or
displeasure to the user.
[0064] If the plastic bottle is used as a rolling massage tool, the
amount of the fluid filled in the plastic bottle is preferably 100%
or near 100% of the internal volume of the plastic bottle. Since
the plastic bottle of this usage is rolled against the human skin
during massaging operation, the empty space in the plastic bottle
may cause the bottle to be distorted when the bottle is rolled and
pressed, making it difficult to conduct smooth massage.
[0065] In case the massage is to be performed by tampering the
bottle by hands or scrubbing it by palms, the amount of the fluid
filled in the plastic bottle is preferably near 100% of the volume
of the bottle.
[0066] Based on the theoretical background noted above, the plastic
massage bottle according to the invention comprises a neck portion
with a mouth openably closed by a cap, a shoulder portion extending
from the neck portion, a bottom portion, and a body portion
interconnecting the shoulder portion and the bottom portion and at
least partially filled with fluid capable of generating kinetic
energy in response to motion of the bottle. The body portion having
a thickness small enough to allow elastic deformation of the body
portion in the event of the massage bottle being tapped on or
pressed against a human body but great enough to normally keep the
structural integrity of the bottle, the body portion including a
pressure massage means so shaped and arranged that the massage
means can make contact with and apply massage pressure to a
multiplicity of discrete, adjoining points of the human body as the
bottle is tapped on or pressed against the human body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0067] Other objects and aspects of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description of embodiments with
reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
[0068] Figs. 1a through id are front views of plastic massage
bottles according to the preferred embodiments of the present
invention;
[0069] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in Fig.
1b;
[0070] FIG. 3 shows the plastic massage bottle in use;
[0071] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of "Z" portion in FIG. 3 showing
the behavior of pressure massage protrusions;
[0072] FIGS. 5 to 7 are front views illustrating different type of
body portions of the plastic massage bottle having a label
attachment area;
[0073] FIG. 8 is a front view showing an modified plastic massage
bottle to which a handle portion is added;
[0074] FIGS. 9a to 9c are front views of the plastic massage
bottles having different arrangement of the massage protrusions
formed to the body portion;
[0075] Figs. 10a and 10b are front views showing various body
portions of the plastic massage bottle according to the present
invention;
[0076] Figs. 1a to 11d are schematic front views showing various
shapes and arrangements of the massage protrusions formed to the
body portion according to the present invention;
[0077] FIGS. 12a and 12b are enlarged views showing one of the
massage protrusions shown in Figs. 1a and 1b;
[0078] FIGS. 12c to 12e are enlarged views showing modifications of
the massage protrusions formed to the body portion of the plastic
massage bottle according to the present invention;
[0079] FIG. 13 is a front view showing a plastic massage bottle
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0080] FIG. 14a is an enlarged view showing one of the massage
protrusions shown in FIG. 13;
[0081] FIGS. 14b to 14e are enlarged sectional views showing
various modifications of the massage protrusions of FIG. 14a;
[0082] FIG. 15 is a front view showing a plastic massage bottle
according a further embodiment of the present invention;
[0083] FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG.
15;
[0084] FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG.
15;
[0085] FIGS. 18a and 18b are front views showing a plastic massage
bottle according a still further embodiment of the present
invention;
[0086] FIG. 19a is an enlarged sectional view showing one of the
massage protrusions shown in FIG. 18a;
[0087] FIG. 19b is an enlarged sectional view showing a
modification of the massage protrusions shown in FIG. 19a;
[0088] FIGS. 20a and 20b are front views showing a plastic massage
bottle according to a yet still further embodiment of the present
invention;
[0089] FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing a wraparound sheet on
which the massage protrusions of FIG. 20a are formed;
[0090] FIG. 22 is a front view showing a plastic massage bottle
according to a yet still further additional embodiment of the
present invention;
[0091] FIG. 23a is a perspective view showing an attachment sheet
on which the massage protrusions of FIG. 22 are formed;
[0092] FIG. 23b is a perspective showing a modification of the
attachment sheet of FIG. 22; and
[0093] FIG. 24 is a front view showing a plastic massage bottle
according to a yet still further additional important embodiment of
the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0094] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be
described in more detail with reference to the drawings
attached.
[0095] It should be understood that the following description is
provided for the purpose of example only and should not be
construed in a limitative meaning.
[0096] Referring first to Figs. 1a to 1d, there is shown a plastic
massage bottle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The plastic bottles 10A and 10B shown in Figs. 1a to 1d have a
capacity of 0.5 lit and a body portion thickness of 0.2 mm, for
instance.
[0097] Reference numeral 10A in FIG. 1 a generally denotes the
plastic massage bottle according to the present invention. The
plastic bottle 10A includes a neck portion 12 with a mouth 12a
openably closed by a cap 30, a shoulder portion 14 extending from
the neck portion 12, a bottom portion 18, a body portion 16
interconnecting the shoulder portion 14 and the bottom portion 18
and at least partially filled with fluid capable of generating
kinetic energy in response to motion of the bottle.
[0098] The body portion 16 having a thickness small enough to allow
elastic deformation of the body portion 16 in the event of the
plastic massage bottle 10A being tapped on or pressed against a
human body but great enough to normally keep the structural
integrity of the bottle 10A. A plurality of pressure massage
protrusions 20 protrudes from an outer surface of the body portion
16. The pressure massage protrusions 20 serve as a pressure massage
means and so shaped and arranged that they can make contact with
and apply massage pressure to a multiplicity of discrete, adjoining
points of the human body as the bottle 10A is tapped on or pressed
against the human body. Reference numeral 12b designates a capping
flange formed below the neck portion 12 with a threaded portion and
adapted to cooperate with the cap 30 to openably close the bottle
mouth.
[0099] The pressure massage protrusions 20 shown in Fig. 1a have a
hemispherical shape and the pressure massage protrusions 20 shown
in Fig. 1b have a cone shape. In the plastic bottle 10B of Figs. 1c
and 1d, hemispherical and cone-shaped pressure massage protrusions
20 are formed on the body portion 16 and a plurality of
hemispherical and cone-shaped massage protrusions 14a are further
integrally formed on an outer surface of the shoulder portion
14.
[0100] The plastic bottles 10A and 10B are made of thermoplastic
synthetic resin by blow molding, e.g., hot Parison method or cold
Parison method. In the hot Parison method, a preform formed by
injection molding of thermoplastic synthetic resin is made into a
plastic bottle by stretch blow molding at high temperature. In the
cold Parison method, thermoplastic synthetic resin is molded by
injection and then solidified by refreshinging to thereby form a
preform, after which the preform is heated again and then subjected
to blow molding to produce a plastic bottle.
[0101] The pressure massage protrusions 20 of the plastic bottle
10A or 10B are protruded from the outer surface 16a of the body
portion 16 as shown in FIG. 2 and have a thickness identical to one
another. The body portion 16 has a reduced thickness so that the
body portion 16 can be elastically deformed and swiftly restored as
the fluid filled in the plastic bottle 10A or 10B is surged within
the body portion 16.
[0102] The thickness of the body portion 16 is preferably 0.1
mm.about.0.6 mm but can be varied depending on the strength of the
plastic material such as PET, PE and PP and the capacity of the
plastic bottle 10A or 10B. More preferably, the thickness of the
body portion 16 is 0.1 mm.about.0.4 mm, and in this range the body
portion 16 can absorb the striking energy quite well.
[0103] FIG. 3 shows the plastic bottle 10B of the present invention
in use. Referring to FIG. 3, when a user grasps near the shoulder
portion 14 with a hand 40 and strikes a certain area, e.g., the arm
of a human body 50 for massage, the struck body portion 16 of the
plastic bottle 10B is elastically deformed and inwardly bent in an
arcuate shape. At this time, the repective tip of the pressure
massage protrusions 20 will apply instantaneously increased
pressure to a localized point of the human body to provide
energetic massage. This will assure, as shown in FIG. 4, that the
pressing tips of the pressure massage protrusions 20 are compressed
and broadened owing to the repulsive load concentrated thereto. In
addition, at the moment of striking, the striking energy applied to
the human body returns back to the plastic bottle 10B by means of
deformation of the body portion 16, so that the striking energy is
converted into kinetic energy of the fluid 60 in the plastic bottle
10B and then gradually extinguished in the plastic bottle 10B,
making the user feel good.
[0104] As for contents filled in the plastic bottles 10A and 10B,
there can be used drinks such as carbonated water like coke and
pop, portable water, fruit juice, cocktail, isotonic drink, milk,
beer, white distilled liquor and unrefined rice wine, food
additives such as soy, vinegar, mayonnaise and ketchup, and foods
such as sesame, starch and powdered red pepper.
[0105] In case that the portable water is filled in the plastic
bottles 10A and 10B, the user may use the bottle as a massage tool
after drinking some amount of the water and then closing the cap
30. If the user drinks the whole water, the user may carry out the
intended massage with the bottle after refilling some amount of
water in the plastic bottles 10A and 10B. In case of carbonated
water like coke, shaking the plastic bottles 10A and 10B may cause
the pressure in the bottle to increase. Thus, the user should drink
all the contents and then refill water in the bottle for massage.
In case of sesame, powdered red pepper, mayonnaise or ketchup
bottle, if the bottle runs dry, water can be filled in the bottle
to use the it as a massage tool.
[0106] The amount of the fluid filled in the plastic bottles 10A
and 10B of a striking massage type is preferably 30%.about.90% of
the volume of the plastic bottles 10A and 10B. If the fluid volume
is less than 30%, the striking energy generated by the behavior of
the fluid becomes too small to get a sufficient massaging effect.
If the fluid volume is more than 90%, air compression amount,
namely amount of compressed air when the bottle is struck, is
relatively decreased and the rigidity of the plastic bottles 10A
and 10B itself is increased. In this case, the amount of behavior
of the pressure massage protrusions 20 is reduced and the striking
energy is increased, thus causing pain or displeasure to the
user.
[0107] If the plastic bottle 10A or 10B is empty and sealed by the
cap 30 in order to give massage by striking, `clang-clang` sound is
generated and the pressure massage protrusions 20 together with the
body portion 16 are little deformed. In this case, if the plastic
bottles 10A and 10B have big capacity, the massage action gives
pain and discomfort to the user like whipping. On the contrary, if
the plastic bottles 10A and 10B have small capacity, the bottle
cannot give sufficient massaging effect to the user due to its
nature of light weight.
[0108] To effect massage by use of the plastic bottles 10A and 10B
filled with the fluid, the user grasps near the shoulder portion 14
between the neck portion 12 and the body portion 16 by the hand 40
and then strikes his or her body with the plastic bottles 10A and
10B. At this time, the capping flange 12b formed under the neck
portion 12 supports the hand 40 grasping the shoulder portion 14,
which enables the user to make massage in a more stable motion.
[0109] When giving a massage by striking the human body with the
body portion 16 of the plastic bottle 10A or 10B, dynamic behavior
of the fluid 60 generated by the striking force to the fluid 60 in
the capped plastic bottle 10A or 10B is transferred to the body
portion 16. Then, elastic deformation of the body portion 16 is
repeated and thus the pressure massage protrusions 20 of the body
portion 16 are tapped on the human body to give the intended
massage effect. At this time, owing to the interaction of the
kinetic energy generated by instant surge of the fluid in the
plastic bottles 10A and 10B, the striking energy is not entirely
transferred to the human body but the substantial parts of the
energy are absorbed into the body portion 16 itself. This makes it
possible to effect refreshing massage without causing any pain to
the human body.
[0110] In the meantime, if the amount of the fluid filled in the
plastic bottles 10A and 10B is 100% or so of the bottle, other
types of massages become possible.
[0111] In other words, if the user does not drink the content in
the purchased bottle at all, the amount of the fluid filled in the
plastic bottles 10A and 10B remains 100% of the bottle capacity. In
this state, the plastic bottles 10A and 10B are hardly subjected to
elastic deformation due to the lack of empty space. Even though
external force is exerted to the body portion 16, the body portion
16 keeps its taut state. Thus, if the user scrubs or fumbles the
bottle with hands or rolls the body portion against the body of the
user, the pressure massage protrusions 20 stimulate the hands or
the human body to give effect of massage. At this time, the water
cushion effect is also generated owing to slight elastic
deformation and subsquent restoration of the body portion 16,
assuring that the massage are conducted cheerfully.
[0112] As described, an amount of the fluid filled in the plastic
bottles 10A and 10B and a striking speed of the bottle can be
controlled so that a user may enjoy desired massage effect with
suitable striking intensity and also enjoy the palm stimulation or
massage by scrubbing or rolling the bottle.
[0113] In case of the striking massage, the desirable capacity of
the plastic bottles 10A and 10B is less than 1 lit in consideration
of fatigue of the wrist. In case of the massage by fumbling the
bottle with hands or rolling the bottle against the sole of the
foot, the waist or the knee of the user, the capacity of the
plastic bottles 10A and 10B is not limited. In another aspect, the
pressure massage protrusions 20 on the body portion 16 give a
decorative beauty such as so called `a crystal effect` to the
transparent plastic bottles 10A and 10B.
[0114] For example, though having good transparency, the PET bottle
generally gives just a clean appearance without a crystal effect
using refraction of transmitted light, which is usually realized by
a glass bottle with the same good transparency. Thus, the plastic
bottle has been considered to have insufficient visual changes.
[0115] One of main causes of the low crystal effect in the PET
bottle is that the PET bottle, which is generally made by biaxial
stretch blow molding, has so small thickness and to give
insufficient refraction of transmitted light.
[0116] It would be considered that the body portion of the PET
bottle is modified to have greater thickness to give more concrete
crystal effect. However, if the thickness of the PET bottle is
increased, the amount of PET resin used to form the product is also
increased and the unit cost of the product is raised, so this is
extremely unsuitable for the biaxially stretch blow molding.
Without the biaxial stretch blow molding, sufficient transparency
and light weight of the bottle cannot be obtained.
[0117] In the plastic bottle of the present invention, a plurality
of the pressure massage protrusions 20 are formed on the outer
surface 16a of the body portion 16 having small thickness so that
pressure massage protrusions 20 can provide strong optical reaction
with the transmitted light being refracted. Thus, the plastic
bottles 10A and 10B may give excellent decoration effects owing to
such crystal effect. Such a plastic bottles 10A and 10B for foods
and drinks having the crystal effect may give good feeling to
theconsumers with its appearance and make eyes of the consumers
focused on the inventive products on the exhibition of a store.
[0118] In another point of view, the body portion 16 may assure its
rigidity thanks to the pressure massage protrusions 20 formed on
the body portion 16. In particularly, the pressure massage
protrusions 20 give significant effects on buckling strength and
internal pressure resistance of the body portion 16. Thus, the body
portion 16 may possess a self-standing ability toward an external
force applied the radial direction of the body portion 16.
[0119] In addition, though the user grasps and presses the body
portion 16 with hands to use the plastic bottles 10A and 10B, the
body portion 16 is not easily collapsed, assuring that the user can
drink in a stable state and the plastic bottles 10A and 10B can be
handled stably.
[0120] FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are front views showing various examples of
the body portion having a label attachment area according to the
present invention.
[0121] Generally, it is well known that a film label or a paper
label is attached either to the body portion alone or both to the
body and shoulder portions of a plastic bottle for foods or drinks
to display a design containing a brand name and the manufacturer.
In some cases, this design is directly printed on the body portion
itself. The term `label attachment area` is used to describe the
fact that a film label or a paper label is attached or printed to
the body portion as a display means on the body portion of the
plastic bottle.
[0122] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a label attachment area
16b is formed at an upper part of the body portion 16 of the
plastic bottle 10C, and the pressure massage protrusions 20 are
formed on the outer surface of the body portion 16 except the label
attachment area 16b.
[0123] Although the pressure massage protrusions 20 are not formed
on the whole surface of the body portion 16, the plastic bottle 10C
may give substantially the same massage effect as in the case that
the pressure massage protrusions 20 are formed on the whole body
portion 16 as shown in FIGS. 1a to 1d. In other words, since the
user properly grasps the shoulder portion 14 between the body
portion 16 and the neck portion 12 for massage, the pressure
massage protrusions 20 are preferably formed at as far position as
possible from the shoulder 14 for the user to easily massage. On
the other hand, in FIG. 5, it is shown that a plurality of massage
protrusions 14a are formed at the shoulder portion 14 of the
plastic bottle 10C, like in the case of Fig. 1d , to give the
pressurizing massage effect together with the striking massage
effect. The shoulder portion 14 preferably has suitable diameter
and length between the neck portion 12 and the body portion 16 for
the user to easily grasp, and the shoulder portion 14 is also
preferably gently curved or sloped so that its sectional area can
be decreased gradually.
[0124] Also in FIG. 5, the shoulder portion 14 has a dome shape.
Although not shown in the figure, the shape of the shoulder portion
14 can be modified to have a round shape like a ball or an
elliptical shape like a Rugby ball for more stable grasp. These
shapes can be fully realized by way of providing a deeper and wider
groove 16c which connects the shoulder portion 14 and the body
portion 16.
[0125] FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the plastic bottle 10D
having a different design in which the label attachment area 16d is
formed at an upper part of the body portion 16, and the pressure
massage protrusions 20 are formed on an outer surface of an
inwardly curved waist 16d of the body portion 16. Since the most
parts of human body such as the neck, the waist, the shoulder, the
hands and the legs are rounded, the inwardly curved waist 16d helps
cause more pressing points of the pressure massage protrusions 20
to make contact with the human body, thus improving the massage
effect.
[0126] The plastic bottle 10D shown in FIG. 6 is an example of a
pressure resistant bottle which has the internal pressure higher
than a normal atmospheric pressure when in use and can be used to
contain mainly carbonated water such as coke. In this plastic
bottle 10D, a bottom wall 18a on which a petaloid recess is formed
on an outer surface of the bottom portion 18. The bottom portion 18
having such a bottom wall 18a is molded by using a common 3-part
mold, meaning that the pressure massage protrusions 20 should not
be formed near the bottom wall 18a to maintain product
releasability. With the plastic bottle 10D shown in FIG. 6, the
pressurizing massage protrusions 14a are formed on the shoulder
portion 14 in the same manner as in Fig. 1d.
[0127] FIG. 7 shows a heat resistance bottle as a modification of
the present invention, in which thermal stress is exerting on the
inner wall during and after the content is filled in the bottle and
heat resistance is applied to an inner wall of the plastic bottle.
If the plastic bottle is filled with hot fluid and then sealed,
initial pressure is generated and the increased internal pressure
is applied to the plastic bottle. As the fluid and the space below
the cap are allowed to cool, thermal contraction is generated to
make the volume of the plastic bottle be partially reduced. Vacuum
panels 16f are formed along a land area 16e throughout the outer
surface of the body portion 16 to compensate the volume reduction,
as well known in the art.
[0128] In this example, a plurality of pressure massage protrusions
20 are formed on each of the vacuum panel 16f, and there can be
provided the plastic bottle 10E giving the massage effect through
the vacuum panel 16f.
[0129] In case of the plastic bottle 10E of FIG. 7, the label
attachment area 16b is positioned at an upper part of the body
portion 16 for attachment of a common label. In addition, since the
shoulder portion 14 is formed at a low position, the user grasps
the shoulder portion 14 and the upper part of the body portion 16
together for the sake of striking-type massage. The body portion 16
of the heat resistance plastic bottle 10E has a hexagonal section
for instance, and the pressure massage protrusions can be equally
formed even if the heat resistance bottle has a rectangular
section.
[0130] In case of a heat and pressure resistance bottle used for
milk soda water container, not shown, a bottom of the body portion
has a round or hemispherical shape for structural resistance
against heat and pressure, and a well-known base cup made of
polyethylene or polypropylene is used to ensure that the bottle
should stand up right. In this case, also, the pressure massage
protrusions 20 can be formed on the body portion 16 to make the
plastic bottle give massage effect.
[0131] As described above, all kinds of PET bottles, namely, normal
pressure bottles, pressure resistant bottles, heat and pressure
resistant bottles and heat resistant bottles, can be made to have
the massaging function by forming the pressure massage protrusions
20 on a predetermined region of the body portion 16.
[0132] FIG. 8 shows a modification of the plastic bottle to which a
handle is added. In this modified example, a handle 13 extends
between the shoulder portion 14 and the neck portion 12 in order to
allow the user to grasp the shoulder portion more stably and lessen
the fatigue of the wrist during the process of massage. In
addition, a plurality of pressurizing massage protrusions 13a can
be formed on an outer surface of the handle 13.
[0133] Although it is shown in FIG. 8 that the pressure massage
protrusions 20 are formed on the whole outer surface of the body
portion 16, the label attachment area can be formed to the upper
portion of the body portion 16 or the shoulder portion 14.
[0134] FIGS. 9a to 9c show other modifications of the pressure
massage protrusions formed to the body portion. In FIG. 9a, a
plurality of pressure massage protrusions 20 are arranged in a
`heart` shape on the outer surface of the body portion 16 of the
plastic bottle 10G. In FIG. 9b, a plurality of message protrusions
20 are arranged in a `diamond` shape on the outer surface of the
body portion 16 of the plastic bottle 10H. In FIG. 9c, a plurality
of massage protrusions 20 are arranged in the shape of a word
`WATER` on the outer surface of the body portion 16 of the plastic
bottle
[0135] By representing the pressure massage protrusions 20 in a
designed shape, letter, figure, symbol or mark on the body portion
16 as described above, the plastic bottles 10G, 10H, and 10J may
have improved design and advertisement effects together with the
massage effects.
[0136] FIGS. 10a and 10b show modified shapes of the body portion
of the plastic body. The plastic bottles 10K and 10L in Figs. 10a
and 10b have small capacity of 0.18.about.0.36 lit. The plastic
bottle 10K of FIG. 10a has a circular section with its body portion
16 of a tumbling doll shape, and the pressure massage protrusions
20 are formed at a lower outer surface of the body portion 16. The
plastic bottle of Fig. 10b has a circular section and the sectional
area of the body portion 16 is gradually decreased upwards and
downwards from the of the center of the body portion 16, and the
pressure massage protrusions 20 are formed on an outer surface of
the body portion 16.
[0137] Such a small-capacity plastic bottles 10K and 10L are easily
carried by a hand and possibly used for the striking massage. The
plastic bottles 10K and 10L are also useful for pressurizing
massage by fumbling with or scrubbing the body portion 16. When
compressing the palm, the plastic bottles 10K and 10L also generate
the water cushion effect, thanks to the elastic deformation and
restoration of the body portion 16.
[0138] The plastic bottles 10K and 10L are also easily carried
owing to its small capacity of about 0.18.about.0.36 lit, and these
plastic bottles 10K and 10L can be manufactured and sold as plastic
bottles dedicated to the massage purposes. It may be contemplated
that the user purchases the plastic bottles 10K and 10L and then
fills supplementary fluid for massage into the bottle in order to
enhance the massage effect.
[0139] Figs. 11a to lid are front views illustrating various shapes
and arrangements of the pressure massage protrusions of the present
invention.
[0140] Fig. 11a shows that hemispherical pressure massage
protrusions 20 are arranged on the outer surface of the body
portion 16 in a check pattern along horizontal and vertical lines
with a regular interval. FIG. 11b shows that cone-shaped pressure
massage protrusions 20 are arranged on the outer surface of the
body portion 16 along sloped lines so that more pressure massage
protrusions 20 can be included in a unit area than in the case of
the check pattern. FIG. 11c shows that rectangular pyramid-shaped
pressure massage protrusions 120 are arranged on the outer surface
of the body portion 16 along sloped lines, while FIG. 11d shows
that triangular pyramid-shaped pressure massage protrusions 220 are
arranged on the outer surface of the body portion 16.
[0141] FIGS. 12a and 12b are enlarged sectional views showing the
hemispherical and cone-shaped pressure massage protrusions 20
according to the embodiments shown in Figs. 1a and 1b.
[0142] The hemispherical pressure massage protrusions 20 of FIG.
12a are protruded to a certain height from the outer surface 16a of
the body portion 16 and adapted to give soft massage effect to the
user. This hemispherical pressure massage protrusions 20 may
prevent breakdown of the body portion 16 which may otherwise be
caused by local fatigue at a point 20a where the hemispherical
pressure massage protrusions 20 originate.
[0143] The pressure massage protrusions 20 in FIG. 12b have a cone
shape, and a point 20a where the cone-shaped pressure massage
protrusions 20 meet with the outer surface 16a is rounded and the
repective tip 20a of the protrusions 20 is not pointed but rounded
in order to avoid giving pain to the user.
[0144] The pressure massage protrusions 20 preferably have a
protruded height of 2.0 mm.about.10.0 mm with an interval of 5.0
mm.about.25.0 mm upon the outer surface of the body portion in
consideration of massage effects, moldability and releasability.
The pressure massage protrusions 20 may have a hemispherical, cone
or pyramid shape, in which the hemispherical pressure massage
protrusions would give softer massage effect and the cone- or
pyramid-shaped pressure massage protrusions would give harder
localized massage effect.
[0145] FIG. 12c, as a modification of FIG. 12b, shows that the
pressure massage protrusions 20 on the body portion 16 have
different heights from the outer surface 16a of the body portion
16. The different heights of the pressure massage protrusions 20
may give different stimulation on the pressure points during the
striking massage. In other words, the intensity of stimulation on
the pressure points can be controlled since the pressure massage
protrusions 20 with a greater height increases the stimulation on
the pressure points, while the pressure massage protrusions 20 with
a smaller height decreases the stimulation on the pressure
points.
[0146] FIG. 12d is another modification of the pressure massage
protrusions, in which the cone-shaped pressure massage protrusions
320 formed on the outer surface 16a of the body portion 16 have an
annular step 20c provided midway thereof. The pressure massage
protrusions 320 having the annular step 20c are advantageous in
effectuating the intended massage to the user without pain mainly
because the body portion 16 absorbs the striking energy better. In
addition, the annular step 20c helps improve the refraction of the
transmitted light, so that the crystal effect of the plastic bottle
can be more enhanced.
[0147] FIG. 12e shows still another modification of the pressure
massage protrusions, in which an insert groove 20d is formed at the
top of a pressure massage protrusions 420, and a cone-shaped
elastic cap 22 made of rubber, urethane or other synthetic resin is
inserted to the groove 20d to give cushion effect and elastic
restoring effect. The elastic cap 22 installed to the pressure
massage protrusions 420 may give soft massaging effect during the
striking massage.
[0148] FIGS. 13 to 13e show a plastic massage bottle according to a
further embodiment of the present invention. A plastic bottle 10M
shown in FIGS. 13 and 14a has a plurality of high elasticity base
23 which are integrally formed with the outer surface 16a of the
body portion 16 toward an inner space 16g, and a plurality of
pressure massage protrusions 520 formed at the center of the
individual high elasticity base 23 to protrude outwardly from the
outer surface 16a of the body portion 16. The high elasticity base
23 and the pressure massage protrusions 520 forms what is referred
to as a volcano-shaped pressure massage means.
[0149] The pressure massage protrusions with the high elasticity
base 23 exhibits good compressive action during the striking
massage, so the massage effect is improved to a great extent.
Specifically, at the instant the pressure massage protrusions 520
is struck to the human body, a compressive force of the pressure
massage protrusions 520 is transmitted to the high elasticity base
23, in response to which the high elasticity base 23 is resiliently
yielded receive the compressive force. Thus, the plastic bottle 1OM
may give an improved massage effect without pain.
[0150] On the while, an annular step 20c can be formed on the
middle portion of the pressure massage protrusions 620 in a
so-called volcano structure, as shown in FIG. 14b. Moreover, as
shown in FIG. 14c, an insert groove 20d can be formed at the top of
the individual pressure massage protrusion 720 having a high
elasticity base 23, and a cone-shaped elastic cap 22 made of
rubber, urethane or other synthetic resin to give cushion effect
and elastic restoring effect can be inserted to the groove 20d.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 14d, a cone-shaped elastic cap 24
made of rubber, urethane or other synthetic resin to give cushion
effect and elastic restoring effect can be placed on the respective
pressure massage protrusion 820. The elastic cap 22 or 24 ensures
softer massaging effect during the process of striking massage.
[0151] Considering that the elastic caps 22 and 24 provided on the
cone-shaped pressure massage protrusions 720 and 820 might
unintentionally come off, the elastic caps 22 and 24 can be
adhesively attached to the cone-shaped pressure massage protrusions
720 and 820.
[0152] The elastic caps 22 and 24 can be made of transparent
material or with various colors in order to improve the external
design of the plastic bottle.
[0153] In addition, the hemispherical pressure massage protrusions
520 can be used in this embodiment instead of the cone-shaped
pressure massage protrusions 520, as shown in FIG. 14e.
[0154] The high elasticity base 23 formed on the pressure massage
protrusion 520, 620, 720, or 820 not only gives an improved
compressive action, i.e., improved absorption of the striking
energy but also promotes the crystal effect of the plastic bottle
10M, because the cubic structure of the high elasticity base 23
improves the refraction of transmitted light together with the
pressure massage protrusion 520, 620, 720, or 820.
[0155] In addition, since the high elasticity base 23 is protruded
toward the inner space 16g of the body portion 16 and the pressure
massage protrusion 520, 620, 720, or 820 is rooted on the high
elasticity base 23 and protruded out of the outer surface 16a of
the body portion 16, the height of the pressure massage protrusion
520, 620, 720, or 820 can be relatively reduced than that of the
pressure massage protrusion 20 shown in FIGS. 1a to 1d.
[0156] FIGS. 15 to 17 shows a plastic bottle according to a still
further embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown
in FIGS. 15 to 17 is identical to that of Figs. 1a to 1d and 13,
except the structure of the pressure massage means which is set
forth below.
[0157] As shown, there are formed pressure massage protrusions 920
of pyramid shape on the body portion 16 of the plastic bottle 10N.
The pressure massage protrusions 920 are arranged to make
successive deep valleys 20e and 20f in horizontal and vertical
directions.
[0158] As the pressure massage protrusions 920 have an acute angle,
pressure massage effect is greatly increased. The height from the
valleys 20e and 20f to the top 20b of the pressure massage
protrusions 920 is preferably in the range of 2.0 mm.about.10.0 mm
with the interval of the pressure massage protrusions 920 being 5.0
mm.about.25.0 mm in order to assure the massage effect when the
pressure massage protrusions 920 are pressed against the human
body.
[0159] In this embodiment, the top 20b of the pressure massage
protrusions 920 is in the same plane of the outer surface 16a of
the body portion 16. However, it would be also possible that the
pressure massage protrusions 920 are protruded outwards beyond the
outer surface 16a. In addition, although it has been described that
the valleys 20e and 20f are arranged in horizontal and vertical
directions, the pressure massage protrusions can be arranged
successively along sloped valleys.
[0160] Massage protrusions 14a can be formed on the shoulder
portion 14 of the plastic bottle 10N of FIG. 15 in the cone shape
as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1d or in the hemispherical shape
as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1c. Successive cone-shaped
massage protrusions can also be formed in an arrangement identical
to the pressure massage protrusions 920, and the label attachment
area 16b can be formed to an upper part of the body portion 16. It
is also possible to form a step section, as shown in FIG. 12c, on
the middle of the pressure massage protrusions 920 of FIG. 15 in
order to improve the compressive action of the pressure massage
protrusions 920.
[0161] FIGS. 18a to 19b shows a plastic bottle according to a still
further embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown
in FIGS. 18a to 19b is identical to that of FIGS. 1a to 1d and 13
to 15, except the structure of the pressure massage means which is
described below.
[0162] As shown in FIG. 18a, pressure massage protrusions 1020
formed to the body portion 16 of the plastic bottle 10P are made of
rubber, urethane or other synthetic resin to give cushion effect
and elastic restoring ability and attached to the outer surface 16a
of the body portion 16.
[0163] In the plastic massage bottle 10Q shown in FIG. 18b, the
pressure massage protrusions 1020 having cushion effect and elastic
restoring ability are attached to the outer surface 16a of the body
portion 16, and palm stimulation protrusions 114a made of rubber,
urethane or other synthetic resin to give cushion effect and
elastic restoring ability are attached to the outer surface of the
shoulder portion 14.
[0164] If the user performs massage with the plastic bottles 10P
and 10Q configured as above, the body portion 16 absorbs impacts
applied to the human body with the water cushion effect, and the
pressure massage protrusions 1020 having cushion effect and elastic
restoring ability stimulate the human body at the same time. Thus,
these plastic bottles 10P and 10Q may provide softer massage effect
than the ones noted in the former embodiments.
[0165] Similarly, since the palm stimulation protrusions 114a
formed to the shoulder portion 14 have their own cushion effect and
elastic restoring ability, softer massage effect can be obtained
from the palm stimulation protrusions 114a.
[0166] The pressure massage protrusions 1020 can be adhered to the
outer surface 16a of the body portion 16 as shown in FIG. 19a. As
an alternative, it is also possible that insert grooves 16h are
formed on the outer surface 16a of the body portion 16 toward the
inner space and then the pressure massage protrusions 1020 are
attached to each insert groove 16h in order to stabilize attachment
of the pressure massage protrusions 1020 as shown in FIG. 19b.
[0167] When the pressure massage protrusions 1020 are attached to
the insert grooves 16h, the pressure massage protrusions 1020 with
compressive force may have great diameter so that the pressure
massage protrusions 1020 are forcedly fit into the insert grooves
16h. Alternatively, a ring-shaped projection can be formed around
the insert groove 16h or the pressure massage protrusion 1020 to
make the pressure massage protrusion 1020 unseparable from the
insert groove 16h.
[0168] Likewise, the palm stimulation protrusions 114a formed on
the shoulder portion 14 can be attached in the same way as the
pressure massage protrusions 1020. Although it has been described
that the pressure massage protrusions 1020 are formed on the whole
body portion 16 of the plastic bottles 10P or 10Q shown in FIGS.
18a and 18b, the label attachment area can be formed to the upper
part of the body portion 16 so that the pressure massage
protrusions 1020 are omitted in the label attachment area, like in
the embodiment in FIG. 5. The pressure massage protrusions 1020 and
the palm stimulation protrusions 114a can also have a hemispherical
or pyramid shape instead of the cone shape.
[0169] FIGS. 20a, 20b and 21 show a plastic bottle according to a
still further embodiment of the present invention.
[0170] This embodiment is identical to that shown in Figs. 1a to
1d, 13, 15 and 18a, except the configuration of the pressure
massage means is focused on below.
[0171] As shown in FIGS. 20a and 21, there are provided a
wraparound sheet made of rubber, urethane or other synthetic resin
and a plurality of pressure massage protrusions 1120 integrally
formed on a surface of the sheet 25. This sheet is adapted to be
wrapped around the outer surface of the body portion 16 of the
plastic bottle 10R.
[0172] Since the thin sheet 25 having the pressure massage
protrusions 1120 is attached to the outer surface of the thin body
portion 16, the plastic bottle 10R constructed in this manner can
give the massage effect by the pressure massage protrusions 1120
identical to the former embodiments. The sheet 25 can be attached
to the body portion 16 by using adhesive coated on all or partial
area of the sheet 25 or by using Velcro Fastener.TM. so that the
sheet 25 can be attached and detached as desired.
[0173] The wrap around sheet 25 having the pressure massage
protrusions 1120 can be used as a label. Generally, a plastic film
label on which advertisement letters, signs, figures, symbols and
marks are selectively printed can be attached to the plastic bottle
for foods and drinks.
[0174] Thus, as shown in FIG. 20b, the pressure massage protrusions
1120 are integrally formed on upper and lower parts of the
synthetic resin sheet 25a together with prints of letters and
figures so that the sheet 25a may give the massage effect together
with an advertisement effect as a label.
[0175] The pressure massage protrusions 1120 are formed with the
same thickness as the sheets 25 and 25a. The sheets 25 and 25a have
sufficient thickness, preferably 0.1 mm.about.0.5 mm, so as not to
be easily destroyed during the striking massage or the pressing
massage. The sheet 25 and 25a can be attached to all or a part of
the outer surface of the body portion 16.
[0176] FIGS. 22, 23a and 23b show a plastic bottle according to a
still further embodiment of the present invention which is a
modification of FIGS. 20a and 20b.
[0177] As shown in FIG. 23a, a plurality of pressure massage
protrusions 1220 are integrally formed on a surface of a thin
attachment sheet 26. This sheet 26 is attached to the body portion
of the plastic bottle 10S as shown in FIG. 22. A manufacturer can
sell the plastic bottle 10S with the attachment sheet 26 kept
separated from the bottle and the user may directly attach the
attachment sheet 26 to the plastic bottle 10S with the use of an
adhesive or double-sided adhesive tape. A food or drink
manufacturer can supply the attachment sheet 26 having the pressure
massage protrusions 1220 to the consumers who purchase the bottle
product with no charge in order to promote the image of the
company. This can be also applied to the wraparound sheet 25 shown
in FIG. 20a, of course.
[0178] The attachment sheet 26 having the pressure massage
protrusions 1220 can be made of rubber, urethane or other synthetic
resin such as PET, PE and PP and formed by using the well-known
injection molding. The plastic bottle 10S as constructed above may
give the same massage effect as the former embodiments by using the
pressure massage protrusions 1220 since the attachment sheet 26
having the pressure massage protrusions 1220 is attached on the
outer surface of the thin body portion 16.
[0179] On the other hand, the attachment sheet 26 having the
pressure massage protrusions 1220 can be used as a sticker for
displaying an advertisement. In other words, as shown in FIG. 23b,
the advertisement and the pressure massage protrusions 1220 are
formed on a surface of the attachment sheet 26a made of synthetic
resin. Adhesive is coated on the back of the attachment sheet 26a
and a release paper 27 for protecting the adhesive is attached to
the adhesive. The user can separate the release paper 27 and then
attach the attachment sheet 26a to the outer surface of the body
portion 16 in order to endow the bottle with a massage
function.
[0180] In case of a coke bottle, for example, the attachment sheet
26a may contain an advertisement of the manufacturer company. In
other cases, a pizza delivery store may utilize the attachment
sheet 26a as a sticker containing a store name and telephone
numbers which read, e.g. "MAPAT Pizza.TM., TEL: 012-345-6789", for
telephone orders.
[0181] The pressure massage protrusions 1220 are formed with the
same thickness as the attachment sheets 26 and 26a. The attachment
sheets 26 and 26a have sufficient thickness, preferably 0.1
mm.about.0.5 mm, so as not to be easily destroyed during the
striking massage or the pressing massage. The attachment sheets 26
and 26a can be attached to all or a part of the outer surface of
the body portion 16. In addition, the attachment sheets 26 and 26a
can have various sizes and shapes depending on size and shape of
the bottle, and the attachment sheets 26 and 26a can be
additionally attached to the shoulder portion 14.
[0182] FIG. 24 shows a modification of the plastic bottle of the
present invention, wherein the plastic bottle has a greater height
than the bottles in the preceding embodiments and has no shoulder
portion.
[0183] The plastic bottle 10T includes a neck portion 12 with a
mouth 12a openably closed by a cap 30, a bottom portion 18, a body
portion 16 interconnecting the neck portion 12 and the bottom
portion 18 and having a thickness of 0.1 mm.about.0.6 mm so as to
be elastically deformed and absorb the striking energy in the event
of the plastic bottle 10 being tapped on or pressed against a human
body. A plurality of the pressure massage protrusions 20 are
integrally formed and arranged on the body portion 16 so as to
apply massage pressure to a multiplicity of discrete, adjoining
points of the human body as the bottle 10 is tapped on or pressed
against the human body.
[0184] The body portion 16 has a cylindrical shape and its
sectional area and diameter gradually increases as it comes from an
upper portion to the bottom 18. A label can be attached to the
label attachment area 16b which is set between the palm stimulation
protrusions 13a and the pressure massage protrusions 20 formed on
the body portion.
[0185] Overall outward appearance of the plastic bottle 10T
constructed as above has a shape of so-called shortened baseball
bat, and the whole height of the plastic bottle 10T is relatively
greater than the plastic bottles in the former embodiments. In
particular, the body portion 16 connected to the neck portion 12
has a relatively long upper portion, and at a position near the
palm stimulation protrusions 13a the body portion 16 has a diameter
suitable for the user to grasp. Since the body portion 16 is long
or tall as a whole, the striking points can be kept relatively
uniform with enhanced massage effect on the back, the vertebral
column, the scapular region and the lumbar region.
[0186] As set forth above, it is preferred that the body portion 16
has a cylindrical shape in cross-section. However, the body portion
16 may have other cross-section including an ellipse, a square and
a rectangle depending on the design of the plastic bottle. And
various kinds of caps including a well-known one-touch type cap can
be used in place of the threadedly tightened cap as illustrated in
the drawings.
APPLICABILITY TO THE INDUSTRY
[0187] The plastic massage bottle described above has advantages
and effects as follows.
[0188] First of all, when the user conducts striking massage or
pressing massage with the plastic bottle of the present invention,
the body portion does not transfer the striking energy to the human
body in their entirety but absorbs a substantial portion of the
striking energy by means of the so-called water cushion effect so
that a plurality of the pressure massage protrusions can stimulate
the human body and thus give refreshing massage effect without
pain.
[0189] Additionally, the massage effect can be freely controlled by
adjusting the amount of the fluid filled in the plastic bottle, and
the pressure massage protrusions may give various stimulation
effects by stimulating the hands or other human bodies in addition
to the striking massage if the user scrubs the body portion with
both hands, fumbles with the bottle on the palms or rolls the body
portion on the human body.
[0190] Moreover, if the user performs massage with the plastic
bottle filled with cold fluid in summer, the cold air is quickly
transferred to the human body through the body portion and gives
refreshing massage effect, and the sound of the smashed fluid may
deliver good feeling to the user.
[0191] In addition, the palm stimulation protrusions formed on the
shoulder portion or the handle of the plastic bottle may give
excellent palm stimulation effect together with the massage effect.
Thus, when purchasing a plastic bottle product, the user may get a
massage tool having the water cushion effect at the same time, and
thus a manufacturer may obtain good evaluation since the consumers
would recognize that the plastic bottle could be recycled.
[0192] Secondly, owing to the crystal effects caused by refraction
of the light transmitted through the pressure massage protrusions,
the consumers can have favorable interest toward the outer
appearance of the bottle product, and eyes of the consumers will be
focused on the exhibited product, which is so promising to the
seller.
[0193] Thirdly, a plurality of the pressure massage protrusions
formed on the outer surface of the thin body portion may enhance
buckling strength and internal pressure resistance of the body
portion.
* * * * *