U.S. patent application number 11/016669 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-01 for pet bottle coupler.
Invention is credited to Manabe, Yasuharu, Nishiyama, Maki, Yoshida, Michio.
Application Number | 20050189243 11/016669 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34697644 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050189243 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Manabe, Yasuharu ; et
al. |
September 1, 2005 |
Pet bottle coupler
Abstract
A block is disclosed which comprises an upper frame portion and
a lower leg portion that are integrally formed under the condition
that the leg portion fits into the frame portion. The frame portion
can be fitted to the bottom portion of a PET bottle and removed
from it, the periphery of the frame portion being provided with
coupling means that couple together adjacent blocks. The leg
portion includes at a center portion thereof a receiving hole into
and from which the top portion of a PET bottle is fitted and from
which it is removed, the outside of the receiving hole being
provided with gaps within which are sandwiched corresponding
peripheral walls of the frame portions coupled together by the
coupling means.
Inventors: |
Manabe, Yasuharu; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Yoshida, Michio; (Tokyo, JP) ;
Nishiyama, Maki; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.
1920 Main Street, Suite 1200
Irvine
CA
92614-7230
US
|
Family ID: |
34697644 |
Appl. No.: |
11/016669 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/139 ;
206/427 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 67/02 20130101;
B65D 21/0204 20130101; B65D 81/361 20130101; B65D 21/0224
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/139 ;
206/427 |
International
Class: |
B65D 075/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 25, 2003 |
JP |
2003-431155 |
Claims
1. A block comprising an upper frame portion and a lower leg
portion that are integrally formed under the condition that the leg
portion fits into the frame portion, wherein the frame portion can
be fitted to and removed from the bottom portion of a PET bottle,
the periphery of the frame portion being provided with coupling
means that couple together adjacent blocks, and wherein the leg
portion includes at a center portion thereof a receiving hole into
and from which the top portion of a PET bottle is fitted and
removed, the outside of the receiving hole being provided with gaps
within which are sandwiched corresponding peripheral walls of the
frame portions coupled together by the coupling means.
2. A block as claimed in claim 1, further comprising locking convex
ridges that engage with the peripheral surface of said bottom
portion of said bottle and are disposed in the vertical directions
of said peripheral walls of said upper portion.
3. A block as claimed in claim 1, further comprising cuts placed in
a peripheral wall of said receiving hole to form movable portions
capable of elastic deformation and locking convex portions that
engage with recessed portions disposed in a cap covering said
bottle and are disposed at said movable portions.
4. A combination coupler block and bottles that are removably
attached together comprising: a pair of bottles having respectively
upper pouring portion and lower container walls and; a coupler
block having a first surface with a cavity of a size and
configuration to removably secure the bottle container walls and a
second surface to removably engage and return the upper pouring
portion of the bottle.
5. The invention of claim 4 further comprising a third surface on
the coupler block for interlocking with another coupler block.
6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the third surface is one of a
male and female dove shaped connector.
7. The invention of claim 4 wherein the second surface includes a
plurality of cantilevered tines for engaging the upper pouring
portion.
8. The invention of claim 4 wherein the second surface is of a
perimeter configuration to securely fit into the cavity of the
first surface to enable a stacking connection of coupler
blocks.
9. The invention of claim 4 wherein the first surface includes a
plurality of locking ridges extending into the cavity for securing
the container wall.
10. A coupler block set that can be combined to construct objects
alone or in combination with bottles that are removably attached
together having respectively an upper pouring portion and a lower
container wall comprising: a coupler block having a first surface
with a cavity of a size and configuration to removably secure the
bottle container wall, a second surface to removably engage and
retain the upper pouring portion of the bottle and a third surface
on the coupler block for interlocking with another coupler
block.
11. The invention of claim 10 wherein the third surface is one of a
male and female dove shaped connector.
12. The invention of claim 11 wherein the second surface includes a
plurality of cantilevered tines for engaging the upper pouring
portion.
13. The invention of claim 12 wherein the second surface is of a
perimeter configuration to securely fit into the cavity of the
first surface to enable a stacking connection of coupler
blocks.
14. The invention of claim 11 wherein the first surface includes a
plurality of locking ridges extending into the cavity for securing
the container wall.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to blocks with which utensils
and toys can be produced in combination with PET bottles by
coupling together just the blocks themselves or by attaching and
linking the blocks to the PET bottles.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Couplers that can be fitted to and removed from bottom
portions and top portions of PET bottles in order to utilize used
PET bottles as utensils and toys, and which include peripheries
disposed with coupling means for coupling together the couplers,
are known from a prior application of the present inventors
(Japanese Registered Utility Model No. 3099575).
[0005] However, although the couplers can be coupled together in a
horizontal direction in a state where they are not attached to PET
bottles, they cannot be coupled together in a vertical direction.
For this reason, there has been the problem that vertical utensils
and toys cannot be produced with just the couplers themselves.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to solve
this problem by providing blocks with which vertical utensils and
toys can be produced by coupling together just the blocks
themselves in a horizontal direction or a vertical direction and
with which utensils and toys can be produced by attaching the
blocks to PET bottles and coupling together the blocks in a
vertical direction and a horizontal direction.
[0007] In order to achieve the above object, according to the major
aspect of the present invention there is provided a block
comprising an upper frame portion and a lower leg portion that are
integrally formed under the condition that the leg portion fits
into the frame portion, wherein the frame portion can be fitted to
and removed from the bottom portion of a PET bottle, the periphery
of the frame portion being provided with coupling means that couple
together adjacent blocks, and wherein the leg portion includes at a
center portion thereof a receiving hole into which the top portion
of a PET bottle is fitted and from which it is removed, the outside
of the receiving hole being provided with gaps within which are
sandwiched corresponding peripheral walls of the frame portions
coupled together by the coupling means.
[0008] The blocks can be coupled together in a horizontal direction
with the coupling means disposed at the peripheries of the frame
portions, and can be coupled together straightly and diagonally
(state where one upper block is positioned between two lower
blocks) in a vertical direction by fitting together the frame
portions and the leg portions. For this reason, flat or vertical
utensils and toys can be formed with just the blocks themselves.
Moreover, by attaching the blocks to the tops and bottoms of PET
bottles, the PET bottles can be coupled in a horizontal direction
and a vertical direction by coupling the blocks together to form
vertical utensils and toys with PET bottles. Moreover, the blocks
can easily be separated and taken apart so that it is easy to make
other utensils and toys.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The above and other objects, aspects, features and
advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from
the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a top side of a block;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bottom side of the
block;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the block;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the block;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of FIG.
3;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along line B-B of FIG.
3;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state where the blocks are
coupled together in a horizontal direction;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a longitudinal front view showing a state where
the blocks are coupled together in a vertically straight
direction;
[0018] FIG. 9 is a view showing a state where the blocks are
coupled together in a vertically diagonal direction;
[0019] FIG. 10 is a longitudinal front view where the blocks are
attached to a top portion and a bottom portion of a PET bottle;
and
[0020] FIG. 11 is a longitudinal side view showing a state where
PET bottles, to which the blocks are attached, are coupled together
in a vertical direction.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] An embodiment of blocks in accordance with the invention
will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0022] In FIGS. 1 to 6, reference numeral 1 represents the block of
the invention. The block 1 includes an upper frame portion 2 and a
lower leg portion 3 that are integrally formed under the condition
that the leg portion 3 can be fitted to and removed from the frame
portion 2. The frame portion 2 can be fitted to the lower portion
of a PET bottle 4 shown in FIG. 10. The frame portion 2 includes a
periphery at which coupling means 5 and 6 that couple together
adjacent blocks 1 are disposed. A receiving hole 7, into which the
upper portion of the PET bottle 4 can be fitted and from which it
can be removed, is disposed in a center portion of the leg portions
3. Gaps 8, into which corresponding peripheral walls 2a of the
frame portions 2 coupled by the coupling means are fitted, are
disposed at an outer side of the receiving hole 7. The leg portion
3 is formed by molding synthetic resin.
[0023] In a case where the PET bottle 4 has a square shape, the
block 1 is formed in a square shape matching the square PET bottle
4, a horizontal-direction divider 9 is disposed between the upper
frame portion 2 and the lower leg portions 3 and, as shown in FIGS.
4, 5 and 6, a circular convex ridge 10 corresponding to a top
surface of a cap 11 covering the top portion of the pet bottle 4 is
disposed at an undersurface of the divider 9.
[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 6, two locking convex ridges
12 that engage with the peripheral surface of the bottom portion of
the PET bottle 4 are disposed in the vertical direction at the
inner side of each peripheral wall 2a. At the outer side of the
peripheral walls 2a are disposed male coupling means 5, which
couple the blocks 1 together in a horizontal direction and
correspond to the left and right sides in FIG. 3, and female
coupling means 6 that correspond to the top and bottom sides in
FIG. 3. The male coupling means 5 have a dovetail groove shape and
the female coupling means 6 have a dovetail tenon shape.
[0025] The receiving hole 7 for the pet bottle 4 disposed in the
leg portion 3 is divided into four by the gaps 8 excluding the top
portion of the receiving hole 7. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, cuts 13
are placed in a peripheral wall 7a of the receiving hole 7 to form
movable portions 14 that are capable of elastic deformation. As
shown in FIG. 10, locking convex portions 16 that engage with
recessed portions disposed in the cap 11 covering the pet bottle 4
are disposed in the horizontal direction at the movable portions
14.
[0026] It should be noted that, as shown in FIG. 2, the leg portion
3, the dovetail tenon-shaped coupling means 5 and the dovetail
groove-shaped coupling means 6 of the block 1 of the present
invention can be formed into a hollow structure and can be produced
so that they are lightweight and inexpensive.
[0027] As shown in the top half of FIG. 7, horizontally adjacent
blocks 1 can be arranged so that the male coupling means 5 and the
female coupling means 6 disposed at the peripheral walls 2a of the
frame portions 2 face each other. By fitting together the male and
female coupling means 5 and 6, as shown in the bottom half of FIG.
7, the blocks 1 are coupled together in a horizontal direction by
the coupling means 5 and 6 to form a flat block group A.
[0028] Also, as shown in the top half of FIG. 8, vertically
adjacent blocks 1 can be arranged so that the frame portions 2 and
the leg portions 3 face each other. By fitting together the frame
portions 2 and the leg portions 3, as shown in the bottom half of
FIG. 8, the blocks are straightly coupled together in a vertical
direction by the coupling resulting from the fitting together of
the frame portions 2 and the leg portions 3 to form a vertical
block group B.
[0029] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 9, a coupled portion between two
adjacent blocks 1 of the flat block group A, which is formed by
horizontally coupling together the blocks 1, is created. Another
block 1 is disposed above the coupled portion so that the gaps 8 of
the leg portion 3 correspond to the coupled portion. As shown in
the bottom left half of FIG. 9, the corresponding peripheral walls
2a engage with the gaps 8 so that the peripheral walls 2a are
sandwiched in the gaps 8, whereby coupling in a diagonally vertical
direction in which the top block 1 is coupled to the coupled
portion of the bottom two blocks 1 is conducted. In this case, a
vertical block C having a width and height is formed.
[0030] Thus, by individually coupling, or coupling in combination,
the blocks 1 forming the block group A, the block group B or the
block group C, various types of utensils and toys can be easily
formed with the blocks 1.
[0031] Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the blocks 1 can be attached to
the top portion and the bottom portion of the PET bottle 4 because
the blocks 1 are configured so that the bottom portion of the PET
bottle 4 fits into the upper frame portion 2 and the top portion of
the PET bottle 4 fits into the receiving hole 7 of the lower leg
portion 3. Thus, as shown in FIG. 11, the PET bottles 4 to which
the blocks 1 are attached at the top and bottom can be arranged in
a vertical direction. As shown at the top right of FIG. 11, the leg
portions 3 of the block 1 attached to the bottom portion of the top
PET bottle 4 are aligned with the frame portion 2 of the block 1
attached to the top portion of the bottom PET bottle 4. By fitting
the two together, as shown in the bottom half and left row of FIG.
11, the PET bottles 4 can be straightly coupled together in a
vertical direction by the blocks 1 to form a PET bottle group
D.
[0032] As described above, by fitting together the male and female
coupling means 5 and 6 disposed at the frame portions 2 of the
blocks 1, the vertically coupled PET bottle groups D can be coupled
together in the horizontal direction to have a planar breadth.
Thus, by devising various ways of coupling the blocks 1, utensils
and toys of various vertical shapes can be formed with the PET
bottles 4.
[0033] The blocks of the present invention can be applied to form
utensils and toys by coupling together just the blocks themselves
and can be applied to form utensils and toys with PET bottles by
attaching the blocks to PET bottles and coupling together the
blocks.
[0034] While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of
the present invention have been described in detail herein, it is
to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise
variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are
intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar
as limited by the prior art.
* * * * *