U.S. patent application number 11/892633 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-26 for snap-on container.
This patent application is currently assigned to Casabella Holdings LLC. Invention is credited to Quan Li, Andre Sampaio.
Application Number | 20090050640 11/892633 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40381209 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090050640 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Li; Quan ; et al. |
February 26, 2009 |
Snap-on container
Abstract
A container comprising a neck defining an opening and configured
to removeably engage an attachable spray nozzle assembly. A
shoulder is disposed adjacent to the neck. A hollow main body
having a wall extends between the shoulder and a closed base to
define an internal space for receiving and storing a fluid. The
wall defines two hollow arm portions forming a substantially
U-shaped longitudinal groove extending between the shoulder and the
base. The groove is configured to receive and grip a handle of a
cleaning tool. A section of material is disposed within the groove
and has a higher coefficient of friction than the wall. A kit
including the container and the cleaning tool is also provided. The
container in combination with the cleaning tool is also
provided.
Inventors: |
Li; Quan; (Queens, NY)
; Sampaio; Andre; (Valley Cottage, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VENABLE LLP
P.O. BOX 34385
WASHINGTON
DC
20043-9998
US
|
Assignee: |
Casabella Holdings LLC
Blauvelt
NY
|
Family ID: |
40381209 |
Appl. No.: |
11/892633 |
Filed: |
August 24, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/675 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/22 20130101;
B65D 23/12 20130101; B65D 25/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/675 |
International
Class: |
B65D 8/04 20060101
B65D008/04 |
Claims
1. A container comprising: a neck defining an opening and
configured to removeably engage an attachable spray nozzle
assembly; a shoulder disposed adjacent to the neck; a hollow main
body having a wall extending between the shoulder and a closed base
to define an internal space for receiving and storing a fluid,
wherein the wall defines two hollow arm portions forming a
substantially U-shaped longitudinal groove extending between the
shoulder and the base, the groove being configured to receive and
grip a handle of a cleaning tool; and a section of material
disposed within the groove, the section of material having a higher
coefficient of friction than the wall.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the groove extends from the
shoulder to the base.
3. The container of claim 1, wherein the section of material is
formed of a soft rubber material.
4. The container of claim 1, wherein the section of material
circumscribes an outer surface of the wall.
5. The container of claim 1, wherein the wall of the hollow main
body includes a recess around an outer periphery thereof, the
section of material being disposed within the recess and
circumscribing an outer surface of the wall.
6. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is made of a
plastic material.
7. The container of claim 1, wherein the attachable spray nozzle
assembly comprises a trigger and a spray nozzle.
8. A kit comprising: a cleaning tool having a handle; and a
container comprising: a neck defining an opening and configured to
removably engage an attachable spray nozzle assembly; a shoulder
disposed adjacent to the neck; a hollow main body having a wall
extending between the shoulder and a closed base to define an
internal space for receiving and storing a fluid, wherein the wall
defines two hollow arm portions forming a substantially U-shaped
longitudinal groove extending between the shoulder and the base,
the groove being configured to receive and grip a handle of a
cleaning tool; and a section of material disposed within the
groove, the section of material having a higher coefficient of
friction than the wall.
9. The kit of claim 8, wherein the groove extends from the shoulder
to the base.
10. The kit of claim 8, wherein the section of material is formed
of a soft rubber material.
11. The kit of claim 8, wherein the section of material
circumscribes an outer surface of the wall.
12. The kit of claim 8, wherein the wall of the hollow main body
includes a recess around an outer periphery thereof, the section of
material being disposed within the recess and circumscribing an
outer surface of the wall.
13. The kit of claim 8, wherein the container is made of a plastic
material.
14. The kit of claim 8, wherein the attachable spray nozzle
assembly comprises a trigger and a spray nozzle.
15. A combination comprising: a cleaning tool having a handle; and
a plastic container comprising: a neck defining an opening and
configured to removably engage an attachable spray nozzle assembly;
a shoulder disposed adjacent to the neck; a hollow main body having
a wall extending between the shoulder and a closed base to define
an internal space for receiving and storing a fluid, wherein the
wall defines two hollow arm portions forming a substantially
U-shaped longitudinal groove extending between the shoulder and the
base, the groove gripping the handle of the cleaning tool; a
section of material disposed within the groove, the section of
material having a higher coefficient of friction than the wall.
16. The combination of claim 15, wherein the groove extends from
the shoulder to the base.
17. The combination of claim 15, wherein the section of material is
formed of a soft rubber material.
18. The combination of claim 15, wherein the section of material
circumscribes an outer surface of the wall.
19. The combination of claim 15, wherein the wall of the hollow
main body includes a recess around an outer periphery thereof, the
section of material being disposed within the recess and
circumscribing an outer surface of the wall.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to containers, and
more particularly, to snap-on containers adapted for attachment to
cleaning tools.
[0003] 2. Discussion of Related Art
[0004] Cleaning tools and cleaning products comprise two major
consumer products industries in the United States and throughout
the world. In fact, some of the most well-known and heavily
advertised products today fall into one or another of these
categories. This is largely due to the fact that housekeeping,
i.e., the physical maintenance and cleaning of a house, is a
regular part of most people's daily lives. Furthermore, there is a
multitude of residential and commercial cleaning businesses
worldwide which require such products to effectively and
efficiently continue doing business. Maid services are also
becoming increasingly more common in many developed cultures, at
least partly because of the rise in two-income families.
[0005] Given the varied array of cleaning products and tools
currently available in the marketplace, it is apparent that the
most successful products and tools are often those that allow
cleaning to be completed more effectively and efficiently. For
example, tools and products are often combined together to more
easily accomplish a specific cleaning task. Furthermore, additional
brackets, supports, and other like parts are often utilized to
secure various products/tools to one another or to some larger
transport device (e.g., tray, cart, etc.) for transport or during
cleaning. Such additional hardware can increase manufacturing and
retail costs and, concurrently, complicate an otherwise simple
endeavor.
SUMMARY
[0006] In an embodiment of the invention, a container is provided
comprising a neck defining an opening and configured to removeably
engage an attachable spray nozzle assembly. A shoulder is disposed
adjacent to the neck. A hollow main body having a wall extends
between the shoulder and a closed base to define an internal space
for receiving and storing a fluid. The wall defines two hollow arm
portions forming a substantially U-shaped longitudinal groove
extending between the shoulder and the base. The groove is
configured to receive and grip a handle of a cleaning tool. A
section of material is disposed within the groove and has a higher
coefficient of friction than the wall.
[0007] In another embodiment of the invention, the container is
provided in a kit with a cleaning tool having a handle.
[0008] In yet another embodiment of the invention, the container is
provided in combination with the cleaning tool, the handle of the
cleaning tool being gripped by the longitudinal groove.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Examples for some embodiments of the invention will be
described with respect to the following drawings, in which like
reference numerals represent like features throughout the figures,
and in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container according to an
embodiment of the invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a front view of the container shown in FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the container shown in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a side view of the container shown in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a top view of the container shown in FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the container shown in FIG.
1;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the container shown
in FIG. 5 taken along lines 7-7 and without a spray nozzle
assembly;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional top view of the container shown
in FIG. 3 taken along lines 8-8; and
[0018] FIG. 9 is a rear view of the container of FIG. 1 shown in
combination with a handle of a cleaning tool.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] In describing the embodiments illustrated in the drawings,
specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However,
the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific
terminology so selected. It is to be understood that each specific
element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a
similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.
[0020] In the following description of some of the embodiments of
the invention, directional words such as "top," "bottom,"
"upwardly," and "downwardly" are employed by way of description and
not limitation with respect to the orientation of the container and
its various components as illustrated in the drawings. Similarly,
directional words such as "axial" and "radial" are also employed by
way of description and not limitation.
[0021] FIGS. 1-9 provide various views of a container 10 according
to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIGS. 1-6, for
example, the container 10 includes a hollow main body 12 extending
between a shoulder 16 and a closed base 14. Together, the hollow
main body 12, shoulder 16, and base 14 define an internal space 13
(see FIGS. 7 & 8) for receiving and storing a fluid such as,
for example, water or a cleaning product. In the embodiment
depicted in FIGS. 1-9, the container 10 is a substantially
cylindrical container having rounded edges in transition between
the hollow main body 12 and the shoulder 16 and base 14. One of
ordinary skill will recognize, however, that the container 10,
particularly the hollow main body 12, can be formed in any variety
of cross-sectional shapes including, for example, rectangular,
triangular, oval, or any other smooth or multi-sided shape. The
container 10 may also have a constant cross-sectional area along
its longitudinal axis or it may taper or change shapes from the
base 14 to the shoulder 16, or vice versa. The container 10 may be
made from any plastic material suitable for receiving and storing
fluids such as water or various cleaning products. Such materials
include plastics such as, for example, polyethylene terephthalate
(PET), polycarbonate (PC), high density polyethylene (HDPE), and
low density polyethylene (LDPE). The container 10 may be blow
molded by various methods such as, for example, injection blow
molding or extrusion blow molding.
[0022] A substantially U-shaped longitudinal channel or groove 20
is formed in the hollow main body 12 and is configured to receive
and grip a handle of a cleaning tool (see FIG. 9). FIGS. 3, 5, and
6 depict rear, top, and bottom views, respectively, of the
container 10 shown in FIG. 1. The longitudinal channel or groove 20
is shown as an integral portion of the hollow main body 12
extending between the shoulder 16 and the base 14. As shown in the
cross-sectional view of FIG. 8, a wall 11 of the hollow main body
12 which defines the internal space 13 also forms two hollow arm
portions 26a, 26b spaced from one another to define the
longitudinal groove 20. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-9,
the longitudinal groove 20 is shown as having a substantially
circular cross-section, ostensibly for receiving cylindrical
cleaning tool handles. As will be apparent to one of skill in the
art, however, the longitudinal groove 20 could have any of various
cross-sectional shapes such as, for example, rectangular,
triangular, oval, or any other smooth or multi-sided shape
depending on the cross-sectional shape of the cleaning tool handle
to be received therein.
[0023] A spray nozzle assembly 18 is shown in FIGS. 1-6 attached to
the container 10. The spray nozzle assembly 18 includes a spray
nozzle 28, a trigger 30, and an attachment portion 32 configured to
removeably secure the spray nozzle assembly 18 to the container 10.
As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, the spray nozzle
assembly 18 may also include a siphon tube (not shown) configured
to draw fluid from the bottom of the container 10 in response to
actuation of the trigger 30. Furthermore, the spray nozzle 28 may
be adjustable to select between squirting a stream, aerosolizing a
mist, or dispensing a spray. Referring to FIG. 7, the container 10
includes a neck 34 defining an opening into the internal space 13
of the container 10, the neck 34 being offset from a center of the
container 10 to prevent the spray nozzle assembly 18 from
interfering with any cleaning tool handles received in the groove
20. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7, the neck 34 includes
external threads 36 for removeably securing the attachment portion
32 of the spray nozzle assembly 18 to the neck 34 of the container
10. As will be appreciated by one having skill in the art, however,
the neck 34 and attachment portion 32 may include other similar
features that allow removeable attachment such as, for example,
cooperating snap-on features instead of a threaded screw-on
engagement.
[0024] Referring generally to the views shown in FIGS. 2-4 and 7,
for example, the cylindrical hollow main body 12 of the container
10 includes an annular recess 24 circumscribing an outer surface
thereof. The recess 24 extends around the entire hollow main body
12, including within the longitudinal groove 20, and is configured
to receive a gripping member 22 which substantially conforms to the
shape of the recess 24 about the hollow main body 12 and is also
disposed within the groove 20 and about arm portions 26a, 26b as
shown by tips 22a, 22b (FIG. 3). The gripping member 22 is
preferably made of a material having a higher coefficient of
friction than the wall 11 of the container 10 to more effectively
grip the handle of any cleaning tool inserted into the groove 20.
The gripping member 22 may be made of materials such as, for
example, a soft rubber, Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA), Thermal
Plastic Rubber TPR, or Silicone. In an alternative embodiment (not
shown), the hollow main body 12 may not have an annular recess 24.
In still another embodiment (not shown), the gripping member 22 may
be secured to the hollow main body 12 by adhesive. In still another
embodiment (not shown), the gripping member 22 may not completely
surround the hollow main body 12 but may, instead, be disposed only
within the longitudinal groove 20.
[0025] FIG. 9 depicts a rear view of an embodiment of the container
10 shown in combination with a handle 100 of a cleaning tool. In
use, the handle 100 is inserted into the longitudinal groove 20.
The handle 100 may be inserted into the groove 20, for example, by
aligning the longitudinal axes of the groove 20 and the handle 100
and then pressing the handle 100 into the groove 20 such that the
hollow arm portions 26a, 26b and gripping member tips 22a, 22b flex
outward to allow the handle 100 to pass into the groove 20. Once
the handle is within groove 20, the hollow arm portions 26a, 26b
and tips 22a, 22b return to a normal position to grip the handle
100.
[0026] While certain embodiments of the invention have been
described, modifications may be made within the scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
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