U.S. patent application number 10/981719 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-11 for stackable bottle system.
Invention is credited to Dean Vincent Lane.
Application Number | 20060096942 10/981719 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36315239 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060096942 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lane; Dean Vincent |
May 11, 2006 |
Stackable bottle system
Abstract
A stackable bottle for use with liquids or other consumable
materials and a system of such stackable bottles features nesting
bottles having interlocking upper and lower surfaces, interlocking
side walls and integral handles. Each bottle has generally planar
side walls to permit optimization of stack volume. Bottles are
designed to be stacked in an upright position to reduce spillage
from the neck of each bottle. Interlocks provide a locational
transition fit engagement for ease of connection and
disconnection.
Inventors: |
Lane; Dean Vincent; (Hope,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STEPHEN R. BURRI
MILLER THOMSON LLP
1000 - 840 HOWE STREET
VANCOUVER
BC
V6Z 2M1
CA
|
Family ID: |
36315239 |
Appl. No.: |
10/981719 |
Filed: |
November 5, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/10 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 21/0231 20130101;
B65D 21/0202 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/010 |
International
Class: |
B65D 21/00 20060101
B65D021/00 |
Claims
1. A system of interlocking storage bottles comprising: a plurality
of storage bottles, each bottle having a storage chamber with an
upper surface, a lower surface and at least four generally planar
side walls; a central conical ceiling extending upwardly from the
upper surface; a cylindrical neck extending from the center of the
ceiling and having an opening at its top end; a conical recess in
the lower surface of a size sufficient to envelop the ceiling and
neck of another storage bottle insertable therein; vertical
interlocking means for releasably connecting each side wall to the
side wall of another storage bottle stackable adjacent thereto;
horizontal interlocking means for releasably connecting the upper
surface to the lower surface of another storage bottle disposable
thereabove.
2. The system of interlocking storage bottles of claim 1, wherein
each storage bottle may be stacked in an upright position above,
below or beside another upright storage bottle to form a stable
bottle stack.
3. The system of interlocking storage bottles of claim 1, further
comprising at least one aperture between adjacent side walls to
form a handle.
4. The system of interlocking storage bottles of claim 1, further
comprising a recess in at least one side wall for application
thereto of a label.
5. The system of interlocking storage bottles of claim 1, wherein
each of the storage bottles is a liquid storage bottle.
6. The system of interlocking storage bottles of claim 1, wherein
each of the storage bottles is blow-molded.
7. The system of interlocking storage bottles of claim 1, wherein
each of the storage bottles is manufactured of a polyethylene
material.
8. The system of interlocking storage bottles of claim 1, wherein
the size of the storage bottles is selected for use with industry
standard drinking water dispensers.
9. The system of interlocking storage bottles of claim 1, wherein
the vertical interlocking means comprises at least one recess on
the side wall for engaging a corresponding protrusion on the side
wall of another storage bottle.
10. The system of interlocking storage bottles of claim 1, wherein
the horizontal interlocking means comprises at least one recess in
the lower surface of the housing for engaging a corresponding
protrusion on the upper surface of another storage bottle.
11. The system of interlocking storage bottles of claim 1, wherein
the neck of each bottle further comprises an external thread for
attachment thereto of a screw cap.
12. The system of interlocking storage bottles of claim 1, wherein
the bottles in the stack of bottles are fillable with a consumable
material.
13. The system of interlocking storage bottles of claim 1, further
comprising a locational transitional fit between the neck of each
storage bottle and the conical recess of another storage bottle
into which the neck is nested.
14. A blow molded liquid storage bottle having a storage chamber, a
conical ceiling in an upper surface, a lower surface, and at least
four generally planar side walls; a cylindrical neck extending
upwardly from the center of the conical ceiling and having an
opening at its top end; a conical recess extending upwardly from
the lower surface of a size sufficient to envelop the ceiling and
neck of another storage bottle insertable therein; vertical
interlocking means for releasably connecting each side wall to the
side wall of another storage bottle stackable adjacent thereto;
horizontal interlocking means for releasably connecting the upper
surface to the lower surface of another storage bottle disposable
thereabove.
15. The storage bottle of claim 14, further comprising at least one
aperture between adjacent side walls to form a handle.
16. The storage bottle of claim 14, further comprising a recess in
at least one side wall for application thereto of a label.
17. The storage bottle of claim 14, wherein the size of the storage
bottle is selected for use with an industry standard drinking water
dispenser.
18. The storage bottle of claim 14, wherein the vertical
interlocking means comprises at least one recess on the side wall
for engaging a corresponding protrusion on the side wall of another
storage bottle.
19. The storage bottle of claim 14, wherein the horizontal
interlocking means comprises at least one recess in the lower
surface for engaging a corresponding protrusion on the upper
surface of another storage bottle.
20. The storage bottle of claim 14, wherein the neck further
comprises an external thread for attachment thereto of a screw
cap.
21. The storage bottle of claim 14, further comprising means for
identifying the contents to be stored in the storage bottle.
22. The storage bottle of claim 14, further comprising a locational
transitional fit between the neck of the storage bottle and the
conical recess of another storage bottle into which the neck is
nested.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to containers, and
more particularly to a system of stackable bottles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is known to provide a storage bottle which permits
stacking of bottles on the bottles' sides. Examples of such bottles
include U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,207 to Cullis entitled: "Bottled Water
Container", U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,199 to Frahm entitled: "Stackable
Bottle", U.S. Pat. No. 4,308,955 to Schieser et al. entitled:
"Interfitting, Stackable Bottles"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,889,834 to
Harris entitled: "Container Construction". Such stackable bottles
are not ideal as the sideways stacking of bottles may increase the
likelihood that the contents of the bottles will leak out of the
bottles, particularly where the bottle contents are liquid.
[0003] It is also known to provide stackable bottles which permit
the nesting of the neck of one bottle into a recess in the bottom
of another bottle. Examples of such bottles include those described
in U.S. Pat. No. 1,042,998 to Climalene entitled: "Improvements in
Stackable Containers", U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,469 to Mehta et al.
entitled: "Stackable Bottle", U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,793 to Brandt et
al. entitled: "Stackable Bottle", U.S. Design Patent No. D466,413
to Justice entitled: "Stackable, Nesting Beverage Container" and
PCT Patent Application No. PCT/AU93/00380 to Preston entitled:
"Stackable Water Bottles". These nesting, stackable bottles do not
include means for interlocking the sides or tops and bottoms of the
bottles to provide stability to a stack of such bottles.
[0004] In addition, stackable bottles are known which incorporate a
nesting neck and interlocking means to connect their top and bottom
surfaces. Examples of such bottles include U.S. Pat. No. 3,474,843
to Maris entitled: "Blow-Molded Containers" and U.S. Pat. No.
2,641,374 to Der Yuen entitled: "Container". Such bottles, however,
do not include means for interlocking their side walls.
[0005] Other bottles are known which incorporate a nesting neck and
interlocking means to connect the sides of the bottles, including
U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,612 to Dorn et al. entitled: "Plastic Container
with Stacking Recesses" and U.S. Pat. No. 3,369,658 to Hasselmann
entitled: "Portable Container Transport Unit". These bottles,
however, do not include means for interlocking their top and bottom
surfaces.
[0006] In the bottle described in U.S. Design Patent No. D407,020
to Doty entitled: "Stackable Polymeric Container for Liquids", a
stackable bottle is described in which the handles of the bottle
are components of the horizontal interlocking means. Such a
structure is less than ideal in that the handles of the bottle will
not be accessible when the bottle is in a stack.
[0007] In PCT Patent Publication No. WO/03055756 to Clark entitled:
"Modular Bottle", a bottle is described which permits snug nesting
of the neck of one bottle into a recess in the bottom of another,
as well as side interlocking means. The bottle is intended for use
as a construction toy after consumption of the beverage contained
therein. The bottle does not provide a planar top and bottom
support surface for stable vertical stacking of bottles containing
consumables.
[0008] Ideally, a stackable bottle for use in a system of stackable
bottles should have a neck and floor recess which generally are of
a size to fit with corresponding necks and recesses in other
stackable bottles of the system. Such bottles should provide
interlocking means for connecting the sides of adjacent bottles,
interlocking means for connecting the top of one bottle to the
bottom of another and interlocking means for connecting the neck of
one bottle into the floor recess of another bottle. The overall
geometry of the bottles should be planar and ideally cubical to
optimize stacking volume. Each such bottle should include at least
one handle which is accessible when the bottle is incorporated into
a stack of such bottles.
[0009] While the prior art contains some of these elements, none of
the prior art bottles incorporate all of the desired
characteristics of a stackable bottle and system of stackable
bottles according to the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In one of its aspects, the invention comprises a stackable
storage bottle and a system of interlocking stackable storage
bottles, each bottle having a storage chamber with an upper
surface, a conical ceiling extending upwardly from the upper
surface, a lower surface, and at least four generally planar side
walls; a cylindrical neck extending from the center of the conical
ceiling and having an opening at its top end; a conical recess in
the lower surface of a size sufficient to envelop the ceiling and
neck of another storage bottle insertable therein; vertical
interlocking means for releasably connecting each side wall to the
side wall of another storage bottle stackable adjacent thereto; and
horizontal interlocking means for releasably connecting the upper
surface to the lower surface of another storage bottle stacked
thereabove.
[0011] In another aspect, each storage bottle may be stacked in an
upright position above, below or beside another upright storage
bottle to form a stable bottle stack.
[0012] In still another aspect, the neck of each storage bottle may
be comprise interlocking means for locational friction fit
engagement with the floor recess of another storage bottle.
[0013] In a further aspect, each bottle may have at least one
aperture between adjacent side walls, each aperture forming a
handle. There may be a recess in at least one of the side walls for
application thereto of a label.
[0014] In yet another aspect, each of the storage bottles may be
blow-molded and may be a liquid storage bottle. The storage bottles
may be manufactured of a polyethylene material.
[0015] In still another of its aspects, the size of each storage
bottle may be selected for use with industry standard drinking
water dispensers.
[0016] In still a further aspect, the vertical interlocking means
may comprise at least one recess on the side wall for engaging a
corresponding protrusion on the side wall of another storage bottle
and the horizontal interlocking means may comprise at least one
recess in the lower surface for engaging a corresponding protrusion
on the upper surface of another storage bottle.
[0017] In yet a further aspect, the neck of each bottle may further
comprise an external thread for attachment thereto of a screw
cap.
[0018] Other aspects of the invention will be appreciated by
reference to the description of the preferred embodiment which
follows and the drawings thereof, and to the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The invention will be described by reference to the
preferred embodiment and the drawings thereof in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a stackable bottle, according
to the invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective bottom view of a stackable bottle,
according to the invention;
[0022] FIG. 3 is an isometric cut-away view of a stackable bottle,
according to the invention;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective front view of a stackable bottle,
according to the invention;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a cross-section of two stackable bottles,
demonstrating the nesting of the neck portion of one bottle with
the floor recess of the other bottle; and
[0025] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a stack of stackable bottles
according to the system of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST MODE AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF
THE INVENTION
[0026] Referring first to FIG. 1, a stackable bottle 2 according to
the present invention comprises a storage compartment having an
upper surface 4 with a conical ceiling 6, a centrally disposed neck
8 extending from the conical ceiling with an opening 10 therein,
and a lower surface (not shown). The bottle has four side walls 12,
14, 16, 18, vertical interlocking means comprising side wall
protrusions 20, 22 corresponding to side wall recesses 24, 26, and
horizontal interlocking means comprising at least one upper surface
protrusion 28 corresponding to at least one lower surface recess
(not shown).
[0027] The side wall protrusions are of a size, relative to the
size of the side wall recesses, which permits a releasable
locational transition fit engagement of the protrusions into the
recesses. Similarly, the upper surface protrusions are of a size,
relative to the size of the lower surface recesses, which permits a
releasable locational transition fit engagement of the protrusions
into the recesses.
[0028] The neck 8 may have an external thread 30 for attachment of
a screw cap (not shown).
[0029] One or more apertures 32 between adjacent side walls 12, 18
may form a handle 34 at the side edge of the bottle. A second
handle 36 may be formed between the remaining side walls 14, 16.
The bottle may include one or more shallow recesses 38, 40 in the
side wall surfaces for application of labels or other marking
devices.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the lower surface 42 of the bottle
incorporates a centrally disposed conical recess 44 and at least
one peripheral recess 46 for engagement with an upper surface
protrusion (not shown).
[0031] As best seen in FIG. 3, the storage compartment 48 of the
bottle is intersected by the aperture 32 forming the handle 34.
[0032] FIG. 4 shows one face 12 of a stackable bottle of the
present invention, demonstrating the planar construction optimal
for stable stacking which optimizes stack volume.
[0033] In FIG. 5, two bottles are shown in stacked configuration.
The neck 8 and conical ceiling 6 of the upper surface of the lower
bottle 50 are dimensioned to fit within the recess 44 in the lower
surface of the upper bottle 52. The fit permits stacking of bottles
without causing damage to labels or seals disposed over the mouth
of the bottle. In one embodiment, as show-n in FIG. 5, the
clearance between the neck and the recess in which the neck is
nested is minimal to provide a close fit between the neck and the
recess. The side walls of the upper bottle 52 are fully supported
by the side walls of the lower bottle 50 aligned below. As well as
providing a stability function, the horizontal interlocking means
provides an alignment function to ensure stack stability.
[0034] FIG. 6 demonstrates the system of the invention, showing a
stack 54 of stackable bottles 2. Bottles are aligned and
interlocked vertically as well as horizontally. The system of the
invention permits stacking of bottles in an upright position to
discourage leakage and spillage during storage and transport. Even
where a seal fails, spillage will be much less than would be the
case were the bottles stacked with the neck in a horizontal
position. One of the handles 34, 36 of each bottle on the periphery
of the stack is accessible to a handler. No rack is necessary to
hold the bottles, as the vertical and horizontal interlocking means
provide stability to the stack.
[0035] The bottles of the invention may be stacked in both empty
and filled conditions. Bottles may be stacked during filling,
transportation, storage prior to use, storage after use, cleaning
and during consumption of the consumable materials in the life
cycle of the bottles.
[0036] The bottles of the invention may also incorporate means for
identifying the contents of the storage bottles. Such
identification means may include colour coding, distinguishing
structural features, or other identifying features for content
identification purposes.
[0037] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
other variations of the preferred embodiment may also be practiced
without departing from the scope of the invention.
* * * * *