U.S. patent application number 11/127287 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-16 for vertically stackable water bottle.
Invention is credited to Oscar Quintana.
Application Number | 20060255000 11/127287 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37418122 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060255000 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Quintana; Oscar |
November 16, 2006 |
Vertically stackable water bottle
Abstract
A water bottle includes an intruding bottom portion allowing
entry of a spout portion of another water bottle, and stacking
surfaces for stably supporting vertically stacked water bottles.
The water bottle neck is shaped for inverted cooperation with a
water dispenser to release the water for drinking or cooking. An
outside stacking surface at the bottom of the spout portion
cooperates with an inside stacking surface at the base of the water
bottle to provide stable support. The water bottle includes a
molded in handle and the spout portion includes inside threads for
a screw-on cap.
Inventors: |
Quintana; Oscar; (Downey,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
AVERILL & VARN
8244 PAINTER AVE.
WHITTIER
CA
90602
US
|
Family ID: |
37418122 |
Appl. No.: |
11/127287 |
Filed: |
May 11, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/10 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 1/0246 20130101;
B65D 21/0231 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/010 |
International
Class: |
B65D 21/00 20060101
B65D021/00 |
Claims
1. A vertically stackable bottle comprising: a bottle body for
containing liquid; a vertically protruding spout portion of the
bottle body for releasing the liquid; an intruding base portion of
the bottle body shaped such that the base portion is adapted to
accept the spout portion; a first stacking surface proximal to the
spout portion; and a second stacking surface proximal to the base
portion, wherein cooperation of the first stacking surface and the
second stacking surface is adapted to provide stable support to a
first one of the stackable bottle when vertically stacked with a
second one of the stackable bottle.
2. The vertically stackable bottle of claim 1, wherein the spout
portion of the bottle body is adapted for inverted cooperation with
a drink dispenser to release the liquid.
3. The vertically stackable bottle of claim 1, wherein the spout
portion of the bottle body includes inside threads for attaching a
cap.
4. The vertically stackable bottle of claim 1, wherein the first
stacking surface comprises an outside ring proximal to a spout
bottom edge of the spout portion and the second stacking surface
comprises an inside ring proximal to a bottle bottom edge of the
stackable bottle.
5. The vertically stackable bottle of claim 1, wherein the outside
ring and the inside ring are substantially circular.
6. The vertically stackable bottle of claim 1, wherein: bottle body
includes an upper belt and a lower belt; the lower belt of the
bottle has a lower diameter which is approximately a maximum
diameter of the bottle; and the upper belt of the bottle had an
upper diameter which is slightly smaller than the lower diameter of
the lower belt.
7. The vertically stackable bottle of claim 6, wherein the upper
diameter of is approximately one half inches smaller than the lower
diameter.
8. The vertically stackable bottle of claim 6, wherein: the first
stacking surface comprises an upper outside edge of the upper belt;
and the second stacking surface comprises a lower inside edge
adjacent to a lower outside edge of the lower belt.
9. The vertically stackable bottle of claim 8, wherein the upper
outside edge and the lower inside edge are substantially
circular.
10. The vertically stackable bottle of claim 1, wherein cooperation
of the spout portion and the base portion is adapted to provide
additional support to the first one of the stackable bottle when
vertically stacked with the second one of the stackable bottle.
11. A vertically stackable water bottle comprising: a bottle body
for containing water; a vertically protruding spout portion of the
bottle body adapted for inverted cooperation with a water dispenser
to release the water into the water dispenser; a removable cap
residing on the spout portion; an intruding base portion of the
bottle body shaped such that the base portion is adapted to accept
the spout portion; a first stacking surface proximal to the spout
portion; and a second stacking surface proximal to the base
portion, wherein cooperation of the first stacking surface and the
second stacking surface is adapted to provide stable support to a
first one of the stackable bottle when vertically stacked with a
second one of the stackable bottle.
12. The vertically stackable water bottle of claim 11, wherein the
spout portion of the bottle body includes inside threads for
attaching the cap.
13. The vertically stackable bottle of claim 11, wherein
cooperation of the spout portion and the base portion is adapted to
provide additional support to the first one of the stackable bottle
when vertically stacked with the second one of the stackable
bottle.
14. A vertically stackable water bottle comprising: a bottle body
for containing water; a vertically protruding spout portion of the
bottle body adapted for inverted cooperation with a water dispenser
to release the water into the water dispenser; a removable cap
residing on the spout portion; an intruding base portion of the
bottle body shaped such that the base portion is adapted to accept
the spout portion; a lower belt, the lower belt of the bottle
having a lower diameter which is approximately a maximum diameter
of the bottle; an upper belt, the upper belt of the bottle had an
upper diameter which is slightly smaller than the lower diameter of
the lower belt; a first stacking surface comprising an upper
outside edge of the upper belt; and a second stacking surface
comprising a lower inside edge adjacent to a lower outside edge of
the lower belt, wherein cooperation of the first stacking surface
and the second stacking surface is adapted to provide stable
support to a first one of the stackable bottle when vertically
stacked with a second one of the stackable bottle.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to storage of water bottles
and in particular to singularly vertically stackable water
bottles.
[0002] Water dispensers using water bottles are commonly used in
households and in work places to provide a source of high quality
drinking water and/or cooking water. In some instances, a large
volume of water is rapidly consumed, and because full water bottle
are only periodically delivered and empty water bottle are only
periodically picked up, there is generally a number of full and/or
empty water bottles requiring storage.
[0003] The bottles generally include a large tapered spout designed
to cooperate with the water dispenser. The spout has a particular
size and shape adapted to facilitate the inverted placing of the
water bottles onto the dispenser, and the bottles are generally
approximately five gallon bottles. Unfortunately, because the
bottles are somewhat large and awkwardly shaped, known water
bottles can only be stored side by side, and thus require
substantial floor space for storage.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention addresses the above and other needs by
providing a water bottle which includes an intruding bottom portion
allowing entry of a spout portion of another water bottle, and
stacking surfaces for stably supporting vertically stacked water
bottles. The water bottle neck is shaped for inverted cooperation
with a water dispenser to release the water for drinking or
cooking. An outside stacking surface at the bottom of the spout
portion cooperates with an inside stacking surface at the base of
the water bottle to provide stable support. The water bottle
includes a molded in handle and the spout portion includes inside
threads for a screw-on cap.
[0005] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a vertically stackable water bottle. The water bottle
includes a bottle body for containing water, a vertically
protruding spout portion of the bottle body adapted for inverted
cooperation with a water dispenser to release the water into the
water dispenser, and an intruding base portion of the bottle body
shaped such that the base portion is adapted to accept the spout
portion. A first stacking surface resides proximal to the spout
portion and a second stacking surface resides proximal to the base
portion. Cooperation of the first stacking surface and the second
stacking surface is adapted to provide stable support to a first
one of the stackable bottle when vertically stacked with a second
one of the stackable bottle. A removable cap may be screwed on the
spout portion.
[0006] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a vertically stackable water bottle. The water bottle
comprises a bottle body for containing water, a vertically
protruding spout portion of the bottle body, and an intruding base
portion of the bottle body shaped such that the base portion is
adapted to accept the spout portion. The spout portion of the water
body is adapted for inverted cooperation with a water dispenser to
release the water into the water dispenser and a removable cap is
screwed on the spout portion. A lower belt of the bottle has a
lower diameter which is approximately a maximum diameter of the
bottle and an upper belt of the bottle having an upper diameter
which is slightly smaller than the lower diameter of the lower
belt. A first stacking surface comprises an upper outside edge of
the upper belt and a second stacking surface comprises a lower
inside edge adjacent to a lower outside edge of the lower belt.
Cooperation of the first stacking surface and the second stacking
surface is adapted to provide stable support to a first one of the
stackable bottle when vertically stacked with a second one of the
stackable bottle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0007] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the
present invention will be more apparent from the following more
particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the
following drawings wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a prior art water bottle and stored prior art
water bottles.
[0009] FIG. 2A depicts stacking vertically stackable water bottles
according to the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2B depicts stacked vertically stackable water bottles
according to the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the vertically stackable water
bottle.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the vertically stackable
water bottle taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of two stacked vertically
stackable water bottle taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.
[0014] FIG. 6A is a top view of a cap for the vertically stackable
water bottle.
[0015] FIG. 6B is a side view of the cap for the vertically
stackable water bottle.
[0016] FIG. 6C is a bottom view of the cap for the vertically
stackable water bottle.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cap taken along line
7-7 of FIG. 6C.
[0018] FIG. 8 shows the vertically stackable water bottle in a
water dispenser and a number of vertically stackable water bottles
stored by vertically stacking.
[0019] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
components throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The following description is of the best mode presently
contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is
not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the
purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the
invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with
reference to the claims.
[0021] A prior art water bottle 10 residing in a water dispenser
12, and stored prior art water bottles 14, are shown in FIG. 1. The
water bottle 10 is inverted and inserted into the top of the water
dispenser 12 to provide water for drinking and for cooking. The
stored water bottles 14 reside side by side on the floor, thus
requiring a large amount of space for their storage. Because the
water bottles 10 are recycled, both full and empty water bottles
must be stored. The prior art water bottle 10 typically have an
interior volume of approximately five gallons.
[0022] Two vertically stackable water bottles 16 according to the
present invention are shown in FIG. 2A. A first vertically
stackable water bottle 16a is shown above a second vertically
stackable water bottle 16b. The first vertically stackable water
bottle 16a may be lowered along arrow 18 to stack the vertically
stackable water bottles 16a and 16b. The stacked vertically
stackable water bottles are shown in FIG. 2B. The vertically
stackable water bottle 16 preferably has an interior volume of
approximately five gallons.
[0023] A detailed view of the vertically stackable water bottle 16
is shown in FIG. 3. The water bottle 16 comprises a bottle body 17
including a spout portion 20 and a base portion 22. The spout
portion 20 is shaped to invertedly cooperate with the water
dispenser 12 (see FIG. 1) to allow water to be dispensed from the
water bottle 16 through the water dispenser 12. The base portion 22
intrudes into the bottle body 17 to allow the spout portion 20 of
the second water bottle 16b to be inserted into the bottom of the
first water bottle 16a for vertically stacking (see FIGS. 2A and
2B). A first stacking surface (or outside ring or shoulder) 28
resides proximal to the spout portion 20, and preferably resides
proximal to a bottom edge 20a of the spout portion 20. The first
stacking surface 28 is substantially circular, and is preferably
circular within the bounds of normal manufacturing tolerances. A
base 24 resides at the bottom of the bottle body 17 and a handle 26
is molded into the bottle body 17 for carrying the water bottle
16.
[0024] A cross-sectional view of the vertically stackable water
bottle taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 4. A second
stacking surface (or inside ring) 32 resides proximal to the base
portion 22 of the bottle body 17, and more preferably proximal to
the bottom of the base portion 17 or proximal to the base 24 (see
FIG. 3) of the bottle body 17. The bottle body 17 includes an upper
belt 36 residing below the spout portion 20 and a lower belt 38
residing above the base 24. The lower belt 38 has a lower outer
diameter D2 which is approximately the maximum diameter of the
bottle body 17, and the upper belt 36 has an upper outer diameter
D1 which is slightly smaller than the lower diameter D2, and
preferably approximately one half inch smaller than the lower
diameter D2. The second stacking surface 32 has an inside diameter
D3 which is approximately one half inch smaller than the diameter
D2. The second stacking surface 32 may further include an inwardly
curved portion 32a immediately above a cylindrical portion 32b.
[0025] A cross-sectional view of two stacked vertically stackable
water bottles 16a and 16b taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 is shown
in FIG. 5. A base surface 46 of the base portion 22 of the water
bottle 16a may reside above a spout surface 44 of the spout portion
20 of the water bottle 16b supported by the cooperation of the
first stacking surface 28 with the second stacking surface 32, or
the base surface 46 of the base portion 22 of the water bottle 16a
may reside on the spout surface 44 of the spout portion 20 of the
water bottle 16b providing support to the water bottle 16a.
Preferably, the first stacking surface 28 of the water bottle 16b
provides stable support to the second stacking surface 32 of the
water bottle 16a.
[0026] A top view of a cap 40 for the water bottle 16 is shown in
FIG. 6A, a side view of the cap 40 is shown in FIG. 6B, a bottom
view of the cap 40 is shown in FIG. 6C, and a cross-sectional view
of the cap 40 taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6C is shown in FIG. 7.
The cap 40 includes outside threads 42 for cooperation with the
inside threads 30 (see FIG. 4) to removably attach the cap 40 to
the bottle body 17.
[0027] The vertically stackable water bottle 16 in the water
dispenser 12 and a number of vertically stackable water bottles
stored by vertically stacking 50 are shown in FIG. 8. By vertically
stacking the water bottles 16, the amount of floor space required
for storing the water bottles 16 is significantly reduced.
[0028] While the invention herein disclosed has been described by
means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous
modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled
in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set
forth in the claims.
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