U.S. patent application number 11/288903 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-31 for decanting bottle and method.
Invention is credited to Charlotte Grace.
Application Number | 20070119517 11/288903 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38086272 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070119517 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Grace; Charlotte |
May 31, 2007 |
Decanting bottle and method
Abstract
A decanting device is provided with a cap having a
longitudinally extending, tubular nozzle with an airway debossed
lengthwise on the outer surface of the nozzle. The decanting device
may also have a bottom lid and a fluid reservoir with a top
aperture and a bottom aperture. The cap is adapted to be removably
coupled to the device at the top aperture and a bottom lid is
adapted to be removably coupled to the device at the bottom
aperture. Such device is useful in decanting liquids of varying
viscosity since the nozzle airway allows air to escape a container
that is being filled with a liquid from the decanting device.
Inventors: |
Grace; Charlotte;
(Milwaukee, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RYAN KROMHOLZ & MANION, S.C.
POST OFFICE BOX 26618
MILWAUKEE
WI
53226
US
|
Family ID: |
38086272 |
Appl. No.: |
11/288903 |
Filed: |
November 29, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/319 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 47/06 20130101;
B65D 1/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/319 |
International
Class: |
B65B 3/04 20060101
B65B003/04 |
Claims
1. A decanting device comprising: (a) a semi-rigid fluid reservoir
having an aperture; (b) a cap being removably coupled to said
reservoir aperture, i. said cap including a longitudinally
extending, tubular nozzle having a coextensive through-bore
defining an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, ii. said
nozzle including a grooved airway formed in the outer wall surface
of said nozzle.
2. The decanting device of claim 1 wherein the nozzle inner wall
surface is deformed as a result of debossing the outer nozzle
surface to form the airway groove.
3. The decanting device of claim 1 wherein the grooved airway is
substantially semi-conical.
4. The decanting device of claim 1 wherein said grooved airway is
substantially semi-pyramidal.
5. The decanting device of claim 1 wherein the semi-rigid reservoir
has a top aperture and a bottom aperture, a cap being removably
coupled to the reservoir at the top aperture, and a bottom lid
being removably coupled to the reservoir at the bottom
aperture.
6. The decanting device of claim 5 wherein the bottom lid is
removably coupled to the fluid reservoir by way of mating
threads.
7. The decanting device of claim 5 wherein the cap is removably
coupled to the fluid reservoir by way of mating threads.
8. A method of decanting comprising the steps of: (a) providing a
container; (b) providing a semi-rigid fluid reservoir having a top
aperture and a bottom aperture; (c) providing a cap, said cap being
removably coupled to said fluid reservoir at said top aperture,
said cap further including a longitudinally extending nozzle, said
nozzle including a grooved airway formed on an outer wall surface
of said nozzle; (d) providing a bottom lid, said bottom lid being
removably coupled to said fluid reservoir at said bottom aperture;
(e) inverting said reservoir and placing a fluid into the reservoir
through the bottom aperture; and (f) decanting the fluid into the
container from the reservoir through said nozzle.
9. The method of decanting according to claim 8 further comprising
the step of venting air in said container out of said container via
said grooved airway.
10. The method of decanting according to claim 8 further comprising
the steps of: (a) closing the top aperture prior to placing the
fluid into the reservoir; and (b) closing the bottom aperture prior
to decanting.
11. A decanting cap, said cap being adapted for removable coupling
to a fluid reservoir; (a) said cap including a longitudinally
extending, tubular nozzle formed from a wall having an inner wall
surface and an outer wall surface; (b) said nozzle further
including a grooved airway formed on said nozzle outer wall
surface.
12. A decanting cap according to claim 11 wherein said airway is
substantially semi-conical.
13. A decanting cap according to claim 11 wherein said airway is
substantially semi-pyramidal.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to tubes and bottles
and more specifically to a device for filling tubes and bottles
with a fluid while at the same time allowing air to escape.
[0002] Fluids, such as perfume, after-shave, lotion, shampoo, and
the like, are often sold in containers that are rather large and
intended for stationary use. However, it may be desirable to travel
with such fluids by first decanting the fluid into a smaller travel
container. This decanting process is difficult and may result in
spillage and ultimate loss of product.
[0003] Further, a product purchased for use in the home may,
itself, be intended for refill. Refill liquid is sometimes
purchased in pouches or other collapsible containers that make the
refilling process cumbersome and difficult. This is especially true
in the case of a viscous fluid such as shampoo, or a more viscous
fluid such as petroleum jelly, wherein the fluid stream poured from
a pouch or jar may be wider than the mouth of the bottle to be
refilled, thus resulting in spillage.
[0004] To address the problem, some refill packages are provided
with a nozzle. However, depending upon the style of bottle being
filled, the nozzle may not be the correct size to allow insertion
into the bottle, or the nozzle may occupy the entire surface area
of the bottle opening, thereby trapping air in the bottle and
preventing fluid flow.
[0005] A further problem is that refill pouches may be flimsy and
difficult to manage with a single hand. The large refill pouch, if
flexible, must be held with two hands while allowing the nozzle to
rest on the bottleneck of the bottle being refilled.
[0006] Yet another problem is that nozzles may be difficult to
clean and thus may not be reused. Although some nozzles have been
developed to allow air to escape a filling bottle, the air
passageways are internal to the nozzle walls, thus preventing easy
access for cleaning if fluid becomes lodged in the air
channels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to the present invention there is provided a
device for containing and decanting fluid comprising a semi-rigid
fluid reservoir having an opening. A cap is adapted to be removably
coupled to the reservoir at the opening, and, if warranted, a
bottom lid may be adapted to be removably coupled to the reservoir
at an opening located at the opposite end of the first-mentioned
opening. The cap has a longitudinally extending, tubular nozzle
that has at least one airway formed into its outer wall. The airway
allows air to escape from a container that is being filled with the
fluid contained in the fluid reservoir, thus preventing
spillage.
[0008] Preferably, the fluid reservoir is sized so as to be
operable with a single hand. This frees up the other hand to hold
the bottle or tube that is being filled.
[0009] Also, since the airway is formed on the exterior surface of
the nozzle, cleaning the nozzle and airway will be simplified.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a decanting
device according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0011] FIG. 2A is an enlarged perspective view of a cap, as shown
in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a cap having a
semi-pyramidal airway.
[0013] FIG. 2C is a perspective view of a cap having a smaller
diameter nozzle than the cap in FIG. 2A.
[0014] FIG. 2D is a perspective view of a solid cap.
[0015] FIGS. 3A-3E provide perspective views of the steps in
preparing to use a decanting device according to the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the decanting device of
FIG. 1 filling a smaller bottle.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along
lines 5-5 of FIG. 4 and showing fluid communication during the
filling process.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the decanting device of
FIG. 1 filling a tube.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the
decanting device 100 according to the present invention. A
preferred embodiment of the decanting device 100 preferably
comprises a fluid reservoir 102, a cap 104, and a bottom lid 106.
The fluid reservoir 102 has a top aperture 108 and a bottom
aperture 110, although the present invention may be practical
without the bottom aperture 110. The words `top` and `bottom,` as
used herein, refer generally to different locations and no specific
physical orientation is implied. Preferably, the reservoir 102 has
a conventional cylindrical bottle shape, wherein the top aperture
108 is smaller than the bottom aperture 110. The reservoir 102 is
preferably sized to comfortably fit in an average sized adult human
hand. The reservoir 102 is preferably manufactured from a
semi-rigid material, such as a semi-rigid plastic, so as to provide
stability, as well as the ability to be squeezed by the human hand
to thereby force a fluid out of the reservoir 102.
[0020] The bottom lid 106 has an open end 112, a closed end 114,
and a side wall 116. The open end 112 of the bottom lid 106 is
adapted to be removably coupled to the fluid reservoir 102 at the
bottom aperture 110. Preferably, such coupling is achieved through
the use of mating threads 118 formed into the fluid reservoir 102
and the bottom lid 106. The closed end 114 of the bottom lid 106 is
preferably flat, thereby providing a resting surface for the device
100 when not in use. The side wall 116 has an outside surface 120
that is preferably textured to enable easy removal and replacement
of the bottom lid 106. Such texture could be achieved through the
use of ribbing, or grooves, molded or machined into the lid 106.
Additionally, a friction enhancing substance could be applied to
the outside surface 120 of the side wall 116.
[0021] The cap 104 comprises generally a base 122 and a
longitudinally extending, tubular nozzle 124. The base 122 is
substantially hollow and is adapted to be removably coupled to the
fluid reservoir 102 at the top aperture 108. A tubular nozzle 124
is generally cylindrical in shape and longitudinally extends from
the base 122 distally of the fluid reservoir 102. The cap 104 will
be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and
2D.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 2A, the cap 104 may be seen to include
a base 122 and a nozzle 124. The base 122 includes a top end
surface 126 through which an aperture 140 is formed, (see
particularly FIG. 5), and further includes an open bottom end 128
and an outer surface 130. The open end 128 is adapted to be
removably coupled to the fluid reservoir 102 at the top aperture
108. The tubular nozzle 124 includes a through-bore 136 defined by
an inner wall surface 132 and an outer wall surface 134. The
through-bore 136 provides a fluid passageway that is in fluid
communication with the aperture 140 (see FIG. 5) formed in the top
end surface 126 of the base 122.
[0023] With particular reference to FIG. 5, it will be observed
that the inventive concept disclosed herein further includes an
airway 138 for allowing air to escape from a container 500 to be
filled with liquid dispensed from a reservoir 102. The airway
channel 138 preferably extends from the open, or distal end of the
nozzle 124 taking the form of a fluted, semi-circular channel 138
of FIG. 2A and FIG. 2C or a semi-pyramidal fluted channel 238 shown
in FIG. 2B. The airway channels 138, 238 or 338 are preferably
formed in the exterior surface 134 of the tubular nozzle 124, and
are substantially coextensive of the tubular nozzle 124.
[0024] A suitable airway embodiment may be formed by "collapsing"
or "bumping" a relatively thin-walled nozzle structure to inwardly
depress or form channel 138, 238 or 338 to obtain the desired
cross-sectional characteristics there through. It will be further
observed, from the view of FIG. 5, that the airway 138, may be
engraved, or otherwise formed, in the wall 132 without being
"collapsed", and providing that the wall 132 is of sufficient
thickness to accommodate the selected channel 138, 238, or 338
configurations.
[0025] The airway 138 is preferably externally debossed to form the
selected elongated airway groove 138, 238, or 338 extending from
the open, or distal end of the nozzle 124, which, as shown in FIG.
2A, may take the form of a fluted semi-circular channel 138. This
debossing feature may be provided by the usual indenting tools (not
shown) which scribe the exterior airway groove or channel 138, and
at the same time deform the relatively thin walled nozzle inwardly
of the nozzle through-bore. This inward deformation may provide an
additional attribute by being purposely deformed to control the
flow of fluid there through, depending upon the viscosity of the
fluid to be dispensed.
[0026] When the cap 104 is coupled to the reservoir 102, the fluid
passageway 140 is in direct fluid communication with the fluid
reservoir 102 through the hole in the top end surface 126, the
hollow base 122 and the top aperture 108. The outer surface 130 is
preferably textured to enable easy removal and replacement of the
cap 104. Such texture could be achieved through the use of ribbing,
or grooves, molded or machined into the cap 104. Additionally, a
friction enhancing substance could be applied to the outer surface
130 of the base 122.
[0027] FIG. 2B depicts an alternative cap 204 having a nozzle 224
with a smaller diameter than the nozzle 124 in FIG. 2A. Generally,
the alternative cap 204 has a base 222 that is substantially
similar to the base 122 in FIG. 2A, comprising a top end surface
226 through which a hole is formed and further comprises an open
bottom end 228 and an outer surface 230. However, since the nozzle
224 is smaller, the hole formed in the top end surface 226 is
preferably proportionately smaller. As shown by contrasting FIGS.
2A and 2B, it is contemplated that nozzles 124, 224 of various
sizes could be provided to enable the efficient filling of various
size travel containers.
[0028] FIG. 2D depicts an alternative cap 304 that may be used if
the user desires to store fluid in the decanting device 100. The
cap 304 comprises an imperforate top end surface 326 and further
comprises an open bottom end 328 and an outer surface 330. The open
bottom end 328 of the cap 304 is sized and threaded to be removably
coupled to the fluid reservoir 102 at the top aperture 108.
[0029] FIGS. 3A-3E depict the steps that are generally required to
prepare the decanting device 100 for use. Prior to using the
decanting device 100, the user must first fill the device 100 with
fluid. This is accomplished by first ensuring that a solid cap 304
is in place over the top aperture 108, as depicted in FIG. 3A.
Referring now to FIG. 3B, the device 100 is then inverted and the
bottom lid 106 is removed from the device 100, thereby exposing the
relatively large bottom opening 110. FIG. 3C depicts a user pouring
a fluid 402 out of a larger bottle 400 into the decanting device
100 through the bottom opening 110. Once the desired amount of
fluid 402 has been transferred to the device 100, the user replaces
the bottom lid 106, as shown in FIG. 3D, and then turns the device
100 upright again. The user selects the cap 104 having a nozzle 124
of a size best suited for the desired transfer. For example, to use
the device 100 with less viscous fluid, or to fill smaller bottles,
a cap 204 having a smaller nozzle 224 should be used. When working
with a more viscous fluid, or a larger bottle to be filled, a cap
104 having a larger nozzle 124 may be desired. The user then
removes the solid cap 304 and places a cap 104 having a nozzle 124
on the fluid reservoir 102 over the top aperture 108. The device
100 is now ready for decanting.
[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates the decanting device 100 and nozzle 124,
according to the present invention, filling a smaller bottle 500
having a cap 502. After ensuring that the cap 502 is removed from
the bottle 500, the nozzle 124 is inserted into the bottle 500. If
not already inverted, the decanting device 100 is turned such that
the bottle 500 is below the device 100 and the nozzle 124 remains
in the bottle 500. The fluid 402 in the reservoir 102 is forced to
the nozzle 124 by gravity and encouraged by any deformation caused
to the semi-rigid reservoir 102 by gripping pressure from the
user's hand.
[0031] During the filling process, and as shown in FIG. 5, as the
bottle 500 is filling with liquid, air is able to escape the bottle
500 through the airway 138 in the direction of arrow 504. The
airway 138 is formed in the outer wall surface 134 of the nozzle
124. After the bottle 500 is filled to the desired level, the user
releases the grip on the reservoir 102 and withdraws the nozzle 124
from the bottle 500 as the decanting device 100 is uprighted. The
bottle cap 502 may be replaced and the filled bottle 500 is ready
for travel. If no more bottles 500 are to be filled, or the
decanting device 100 is to be stored for some time without use, the
cap 104 may be removed from the device 100 and the solid cap 304
placed over the top aperture 108.
[0032] FIG. 6 illustrates the decanting device 100 of the present
invention being used to fill a tube 600, rather than the bottle 500
shown in previous views. It is to be understood that a similar
filling procedure to that described for the bottle 500 of FIG. 3 is
used to fill a tube 600. As seen in the case of an expanded tube
600, the airway 138 is useful in allowing the displaced tube air to
escape.
[0033] The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred
embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without
departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
* * * * *