U.S. patent application number 13/032833 was filed with the patent office on 2011-11-24 for handled bottle.
This patent application is currently assigned to The Clorox Company. Invention is credited to Russell E. Bell, John E. Jamieson, Elizabeth N. Piscotty, Judith Webster.
Application Number | 20110284595 13/032833 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44971656 |
Filed Date | 2011-11-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110284595 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jamieson; John E. ; et
al. |
November 24, 2011 |
HANDLED BOTTLE
Abstract
Described is an improved pouring bottle having an ergonomic
enclosed handle with a thumb pad and an alignment nub that allows
accurate venting through the vented enclosed handle when pouring
through the dispensing opening. The vented handle may be separated
from the bottle container interior at the neck by a solid web and
fluidly connected to the bottle container interior on the bottle
side surface.
Inventors: |
Jamieson; John E.;
(Pleasanton, CA) ; Bell; Russell E.; (Pleasanton,
CA) ; Piscotty; Elizabeth N.; (Pleasanton, CA)
; Webster; Judith; (Pleasanton, CA) |
Assignee: |
The Clorox Company
Oakland
CA
|
Family ID: |
44971656 |
Appl. No.: |
13/032833 |
Filed: |
February 23, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12786224 |
May 24, 2010 |
|
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13032833 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
222/465.1 ;
222/109 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 25/2894 20130101;
B65D 23/102 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/465.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 23/10 20060101
B65D023/10 |
Claims
1. A bottle comprising: a container having a body portion for
holding container content in a container interior, the container
having a container top front side with a dispensing opening, a
container top rear side with a handle having a handle exterior
surface and a handle interior surface and a handle top end and a
handle bottom end, wherein the handle exterior surface comprises an
enclosed handle exterior surface and an extended handle exterior
surface, a container having a front side surface and a rear side
surface forming a container body, and a container lower closed
bottom end for supporting the container, the dispensing opening
comprising a neck fluidly connected to both the container interior
and the handle interior at the handle top end, wherein the handle
has a thumb pad on the extended handle exterior surface and a
forefinger alignment nub on the enclosed handle exterior
surface.
2. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the thumb pad is concave compared
to the extended handle exterior surface.
3. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the forefinger alignment nub is
convex compared to the enclosed handle exterior surface.
4. The bottle of claim 1, wherein a solid web separates the handle
top end from the container front side where the handle top end and
the container front side connected with the neck.
5. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the handle bottom end is fluidly
connected to the container body portion about half way up the
container rear side.
6. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the bottle additionally comprises
a dispensing closure, the dispensing closure comprising an
attachment means to connect to the container neck, where the
attachment means is selected from the group consisting of a
threaded closure, crimping, clipping means, heat sealing, force
fitting, clasp elements, snap-fit bead, groove arrangements, and
combinations thereof.
7. The bottle of claim 6, wherein the dispensing closure comprises
a threaded closure.
8. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the container neck comprises a
spout fitment.
9. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the container neck lacks a spout
fitment.
10. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the container has an indented
label wall below the handle.
11. A bottle comprising: a container having a body portion for
holding container content in a container interior, the container
having a container top front side with a dispensing opening, a
container top rear side with a handle having a handle exterior
surface and a handle interior surface and a handle top end and a
handle bottom end, wherein the handle exterior surface comprises an
enclosed handle exterior surface and an extended handle exterior
surface, a container having a front side surface and a rear side
surface forming a container body, and a container lower closed
bottom end for supporting the container, the dispensing opening
comprising a neck fluidly connected to both the container interior
and the handle interior at the handle top end, wherein a solid web
separates the handle top end from the container front side where
the handle top end and the container front side connected with the
neck and the handle bottom end is fluidly connected to the
container body portion about half way up the container rear side,
wherein the handle has a concave thumb pad on the extended handle
exterior surface and a convex forefinger alignment nub on the
enclosed handle exterior surface and the handle diameter above the
concave thumb pad is the same as the handle diameter below the
convex forefinger alignment nub.
12. The bottle of claim 11, wherein the container neck comprises a
spout fitment.
13. The bottle of claim 11, wherein the container neck lacks a
spout fitment.
14. The bottle of claim 11, wherein the container has an indented
label wall below the handle.
15. A bottle comprising: a container having a body portion for
holding container content in a container interior, the container
having a container top front side with a dispensing opening, a
container top rear side with a handle having a handle exterior
surface and a handle interior surface and a handle top end and a
handle bottom end, wherein the handle exterior surface comprises an
enclosed handle exterior surface and an extended handle exterior
surface, a container having a front side surface and a rear side
surface forming a container body, and a container lower closed
bottom end for supporting the container, the dispensing opening
comprising a neck fluidly connected to both the container interior
and the handle interior at the handle top end, wherein the handle
has a concave thumb pad on the extended handle exterior surface and
a convex forefinger alignment nub on the enclosed handle exterior
surface.
16. The bottle of claim 15, wherein a solid web separates the
handle top end from the container front side where the handle top
end and the container front side connected with the neck.
17. The bottle of claim 15, wherein the handle bottom end is
fluidly connected to the container body portion about half way up
the container rear side.
18. The bottle of claim 15, wherein the container neck comprises a
spout fitment.
19. The bottle of claim 15, wherein the container neck lacks a
spout fitment.
20. The bottle of claim 15, wherein the container has an indented
label wall below the handle.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application is a continuation-in-part of
copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/786,224, filed May
24, 2010.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates generally to an ergonomic handled
bottle having a handle inlet in the bottle opening.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A typical bottle with an integral handle and method of
making is described in U.S. 2005/0163952 to Beale and U.S. Pat. No.
4,629,598 to Thompson. Where the handle is vented from handle top
at the bottle opening to the handle bottom at the container
interior, the handle venting may not work properly if the handle is
not tipped at the proper angle or is tipped to quickly.
[0006] To overcome this problem it is important to be able to use
the handle venting properly during pouring by controlling where the
handle is gripped and having a controlled ergonomic grip to the
handle. Accordingly, what is needed is a bottle with an enclosed,
vented handle having an ergonomic grip.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In accordance with the principles of the present invention,
in one embodiment, is a bottle comprising a container having a body
portion for holding container content in a container interior, the
container having a container top front side with a dispensing
opening, a container top rear side with a handle having a handle
exterior surface and a handle interior surface and a handle top end
and a handle bottom end, wherein the handle exterior surface
comprises an enclosed handle exterior surface and an extended
handle exterior surface, a container having a front side surface
and a rear side surface forming a container body, and a container
lower closed bottom end for supporting the container, the
dispensing opening comprising a neck fluidly connected to both the
container interior and the handle interior at the handle top end,
wherein the handle has a thumb pad on the extended handle exterior
surface and a forefinger alignment nub on the enclosed handle
exterior surface.
[0008] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a
bottle comprises a container having a body portion for holding
container content in a container interior, the container having a
container top front side with a dispensing opening, a container top
rear side with a handle having a handle exterior surface and a
handle interior surface and a handle top end and a handle bottom
end, wherein the handle exterior surface comprises an enclosed
handle exterior surface and an extended handle exterior surface, a
container having a front side surface and a rear side surface
forming a container body, and a container lower closed bottom end
for supporting the container, the dispensing opening comprising a
neck fluidly connected to both the container interior and the
handle interior at the handle top end, wherein a solid web
separates the handle top end from the container front side where
the handle top end and the container front side connected with the
neck and the handle bottom end is fluidly connected to the
container body portion about half way up the container rear side,
wherein the handle has a concave thumb pad on the extended handle
exterior surface and a convex forefinger alignment nub on the
enclosed handle exterior surface.
[0009] According to a further embodiment of the present invention,
a bottle comprises a container having a body portion for holding
container content in a container interior, the container having a
container top front side with a dispensing opening, a container top
rear side with a handle having a handle exterior surface and a
handle interior surface and a handle top end and a handle bottom
end, wherein the handle exterior surface comprises an enclosed
handle exterior surface and an extended handle exterior surface, a
container having a front side surface and a rear side surface
forming a container body, and a container lower closed bottom end
for supporting the container, the dispensing opening comprising a
neck fluidly connected to both the container interior and the
handle interior at the handle top end, wherein the handle has a
concave thumb pad on the extended handle exterior surface and a
convex forefinger alignment nub on the enclosed handle exterior
surface.
[0010] The use of the bottle of the present invention, from a
consumer perspective, would not differ from the use of any
conventional dispensing bottle known in the art. The user would
simply open the dispensing closure to dispense fluid from the
bottle.
[0011] Further features and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view
of the detailed description of embodiments below, when considered
together with the attached drawings and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The foregoing aspects and others will be readily appreciated
by the skilled artisan from the following description of
illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a side plan view of a bottle in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a side plan view of a container in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG.
2.
[0016] FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of a bottle in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like
numerals refer to like parts throughout. For ease of description,
the components of this invention are described in the normal
(upright) operating position, and terms such as upper, lower,
horizontal, top, bottom, etc., are used with reference to this
position. It will be understood, however, that the components
embodying this invention may be manufactured, stored, transported,
used, and sold in an orientation other than the position
described.
[0018] Figures illustrating the components of this invention show
some conventional mechanical elements that are known and that will
be recognized by one skilled in the art. The detailed descriptions
of such elements are not necessary to an understanding of the
invention, and accordingly, are herein presented only to the degree
necessary to facilitate an understanding of the novel features of
the present invention.
[0019] All publications, patents and patent applications cited
herein, whether supra or infra, are hereby incorporated by
reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each
individual publication, patent or patent application was
specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by
reference.
[0020] As used herein and in the claims, the term "comprising" is
inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional unrecited
elements, compositional components, or method steps. Accordingly,
the term "comprising" encompasses the more restrictive terms
"consisting essentially of" and "consisting of".
[0021] It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the
appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" include
plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
Thus, for example, reference to a "surfactant" includes two or more
such surfactants.
[0022] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms
used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although
a number of methods and materials similar or equivalent to those
described herein can be used in the practice of the present
invention, the preferred materials and methods are described
herein.
[0023] The term "bottle", as used herein, is meant to mean and
include any plastic container and closure for holding a fluid.
[0024] In a suitable embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the bottle
100 comprises a container 102 having a body portion 104 for holding
container content in the container interior 107, with a container
front side surface 103 having container top front side 106 adjacent
to the dispensing opening 108 and a container rear side surface 105
having a container top rear side 110 adjacent to the handle 112,
and a lower closed bottom end 114 for supporting the container 102.
The container has an upper end including a neck 116 delimiting a
dispensing opening 108. A dispensing closure 120 of the present
invention, having a base member 122, a cap 124, and a connecting
hinge 118 may be securely mounted onto said container 102 via its
base member 122, using any means of attachment commonly know to
those skilled in the art including cooperative threads, crimping,
clipping means, heat sealing, force fitting, clasp elements,
snap-fit bead, groove arrangements, and mixtures thereof. The
container 102 can have an enclosed handle 112 with an extended
handle exterior surface 126 and an enclosed extended handle
interior surface 128. The bottle has a concave thumb pad 130 on the
extended handle exterior surface 126 and a convex forefinger
alignment nub 132 on the enclosed handle interior surface 128.
These handle easy-grip features are suitable for a forward directed
pouring spout which is tipped during pouring to a lesser extent
than is required for a more central directed pouring spout on the
top of a bottle. A solid web 134 separates the handle top end 136
from the container front side 106 where the handle top end 136 and
the container front side 106 both enter the neck 116. The handle
bottom end 135 is fluidly connected to the container body portion
104 about half way up the container rear side surface 105. The
handle interior 109 of the handle top end 136 is fluidly connected
to the dispensing opening 108 at the neck 116. The handle interior
109 is fluidly connected to container interior 107 at the handle
bottom end 135. The handle diameter 113 above the concave thumb pad
130 is the same as the handle diameter 115 below the convex
forefinger alignment nub 132. This combination of thumb pad,
alignment nub and equal diameter provides the smooth flow when
pouring with the separated vented handle.
[0025] Below the handle 112 is an indented label wall 138. The
container my be either an elongated circle or round. The container
may have a spout fitment, as in FIG. 4, or it may lack a spout
fitment as in FIG. 2. The elongated container, the extended handle
having a thumb pad and a forefinger alignment nub, the separate
handle opening to the neck, the forward neck, or combinations of
these allow for effective directed pouring out of the front of the
bottle.
[0026] Suitably, the dispensing closure 120 of the invention is
provided with an inner female thread (not shown) typically located
in the base member 122, and the container neck 116 is provided with
an exterior male thread 150 formed adjacent its dispensing opening
118. The dispensing closure 120 of the present invention is
suitable for use with a variety of conventional or special
containers having various designs, the details of which, although
not illustrated or described, would be apparent to those skilled in
the art. The container 102 may have a rigid wall or walls, or may
have a somewhat flexible wall or walls.
[0027] In a suitable aspect of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and
2, the dispensing closure 120 is a separate element which is
adapted to be removably or non-removably mounted, via its base
member 122, to a previously manufactured container 102 which has a
dispensing opening 108 to the container interior. In an alternative
execution, the dispensing closure may be formed as a unitary part,
or extension, of the container. The dispensing closure 120 is
adapted to be used with a container 102 having a dispensing opening
108 to provide access to the container interior volume and to a
product contained therein, which is preferably a pourable product.
However, the dispensing closure 120 of the invention may be used
with many products, including but not limited to, relatively low or
high viscosity liquids, creams, gels, suspensions, mixtures,
lotions, pastes, particulates, granular products, and mixtures
thereof. Typical products for use in the present invention may be
those constituting a food product, a personal care product, an
industrial or household cleaning product, or other compositions of
matter for use in activities involving manufacturing, commercial or
household maintenance, construction, agriculture. Suitably, said
pourable product is a liquid composition.
[0028] The container neck 116 may be a simple threaded closure or
may have in addition to the male thread 150, several functional
elements to prevent removal of the base member 122 of the
dispensing closure 120.
[0029] The bottle may have an integrated spout fitment such as
described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,803 to Sprick, which is
incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. In another
embodiment in FIG. 4, the bottle 200 comprises a dispensing
container 202 having an enclosed handle 204 in the container rear
section 203 and a neck 206 in the container front section 205 with
a spout fitment 208 inserted into the cylindrical neck 206. In this
way, the consumer picks up the container at the handle in the rear
section and pours from the spout in the front section of the
container. The bottle 200 also has a cap closure 210 which acts to
close the pouring spout.
[0030] This invention has been described herein in detail to
provide those skilled in the art with information relevant to apply
the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized
components as are required. However, it is to be understood that
the invention can be carried out by different equipment, materials
and devices, and that various modifications, both as to the
equipment and operating procedures, can be accomplished without
departing from the scope of the invention itself.
* * * * *