Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02952693 2016-12-22
BOTTLE FOR CONTROL OF LIQUID CONTENTS
FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to bottles.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A bottle is a convenient container for liquids with an opening at
the top that is
narrower than the body. The opening can be sealed to contain the liquid
contents and has the
advantage of being resealed using a screw top or snap-on cap. Being sealed,
the bottle can
protect the contained liquid from external contaminants, as well as facilitate
dispensing of the
liquid in a controlled manner. In today's world, liquid containers such as
bottles are used for
dispensing a variety of liquids, from individual use to commercial
applications.
[0003] It is important for a bottle's design to accommodate appropriate
levels of mixing
by the user, prior to dispensing the liquid contents from a spout of the
bottle. In terms of ease
of use by the user, a bottle that provides for appropriate mixing should also
provide for
convenient holding by the user to inhibit accidental dropping of the bottle,
as well as to control
any spills or drips from the spout during or after/during pouring of the
liquid by the user. Current
bottle designs have a disadvantage in that providing increased levels of
mixing can produce a
bottle that is awkward to hold and use.
[0004] In terms of appropriate mixing, a suitably shaped bottle should
provide for
mixing/agitation of the liquid contents while the bottle is relatively full,
recognizing that mixing
of the liquid with air can preferably enhance the degree of mixing. Present
bottle designs can
limit the available airspace within a filled bottle.
[0005] In terms of limited storage space, for example in cluttered areas
of the home like
bathrooms, current bottle designs do not provide for efficient use of counter
space when
multiple containers and other objects must be stored in close proximity to one
another.
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SUMMARY
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a bottle that
obviates or mitigates
at least one of the above-presented disadvantages.
[0007] It is important for a bottle's design to accommodate appropriate
levels of mixing
by the user, prior to dispensing the liquid contents from a spout of the
bottle. In terms of ease
of use by the user, a bottle that provides for appropriate mixing should also
provide for
convenient holding by the user to inhibit accidental dropping of the bottle,
as well as to control
any spills or drips from the spout during or after/during pouring of the
liquid by the user.
[0008] A first aspect provided is a bottle for holding liquid contents,
the bottle comprising:
a container wall defining an enclosed interior including: a pair of opposed
side surfaces; a front
surface and a back surface connected to the pair of opposed side surfaces by
respective first
arcuate regions; a bottom surface including at least two legs and connected to
the front surface,
the back surface and the pair of opposed side surfaces, each of the legs
positioned on either
side of the bottom surface and adjacent to a respective one of the pair of
opposed side surfaces;
and a top surface including a pair of shoulder regions including a first
shoulder region located
adjacent to one of the pair of opposed side surfaces and a second shoulder
region located
adjacent to the other one of the pair of opposed side surfaces, the first
shoulder region and the
second shoulder region having a character of curvature as concave measured
from the interior,
a top inflection region positioned between the first shoulder region and the
second shoulder
region having a character of curvature as convex measured from the interior in
order to
separate the first shoulder region from the second shoulder region, the top
surface connected
to the front surface, the back surface and the pair of opposed side surfaces
by respective
second arcuate regions; and a spout positioned in the top inflection region
for providing exit of
the liquid contents from the interior when uncapped, such that a base of the
spout is lower than
a height of any location on the top surface of the first shoulder region and
lower than a height
of any location on the top surface of the second shoulder region, as measured
from the bottom
surface, such that the heights of the shoulder regions extend between the
front surface and the
back surface to provide an enclosed volume by the pair of shoulder regions
positioned above
the base to facilitate mixing of the liquid contents when contained therein
upon agitation of the
bottle.
[0009] Further, provision of the shoulder regions above the base of the
spout provides a
surface area for directing egress of the liquid contents from a top of the
spout towards at least
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one of the front surface and the back surface while directing the egress of
the liquid contents
away from either of the pair of opposed side surfaces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The foregoing and other aspects will now be described by way of
example only
with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
[0011] Figure. 1 is a perspective view of a bottle;
[0012] Figure 2 is a further perspective view of the bottle shown in
Figure 1;
[0013] Figure 3 is a further perspective view of the bottle shown in
Figure 2;
[0014] Figure 4 is a view of a prior art bottle;
[0015] Figure 5 is a side view of the bottle shown in Figure 2;
[0016] Figure 6 is a further side view of the bottle shown in Figure 2;
[0017] Figure 7 is a side view of the bottle shown in Figure 2 showing
drip control;
[0018] Figure 8 is a top view of the bottle shown in Figure 2; and
[0019] Figure 9 is a bottom view of the bottle shown in Figure 2;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] Referring to Figure 1, shown is a (e.g. tooth) shaped bottle 1 for
holding liquid
contents. The bottle 1 has a plurality of walls having different shaped
surfaces making up an
interior 17 (see Figure 8) for holding the liquid contents. A bottom surface 2
has two or more
legs 3 extending from the bottom surface 2, in order to position the bottle 1
in a stable position
on a support surface 0 (see Figure 6 ¨ e.g. bathroom shelf or sink). The
bottle 1 has a pair of
side surfaces 4 connected to a front surface 5 and a back surface 6 via
respective arcuate
corner regions 7. The side surfaces 4, the back surface 6 and the front
surface 5 are connected
to a top surface 8 via respective arcuate corner regions 9. The top surface 8
has a spout 10
positioned between all of the arcuate corner regions 9, the spout 10 for
connecting to a cap 16
(see Figure 2) for releasably securing to the spout 10 in order to enclose the
liquid contents in
the interior 17 of the bottle 1. As further discussed below, the top surface 8
has an inflection
region l (providing a convex curvature adjacent the inflection region l as
measured from the
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interior 17 of the bottle) between a pair of shoulders 12,14, such that the
spout 10 is positioned
in the inflection region I. In terms of material comprising the walls of the
container, the material
can be opaque or transparent. Further, the material can be of plastic, glass,
or other suitable
materials for containing the liquid contents.
[0021]
Referring to Figures 2 and 5, the spout 10 has a base 11 on the top surface
8 and
an exit aperture 13 providing for pouring of the liquid contents from the
bottle interior 17. The
spout 10 has a spout wall 15 provided about the base 11 that extends between
the base 11
and the aperture 13 a distance D, such that the spout wall 15 is configured
for retaining a cap
16 thereon via a releasable fastening mechanism (not shown) such as but not
limited to a snap
on connection, a threaded connection, etc. The top surface 8 has a first
shoulder 12 on one
side of the spout 10 and a second shoulder 14 on the opposite side of the
spout 10, such that
each shoulder 12, 14 extends a height H from the base 11 (in inflection region
I of the top
surface 8) of the spout 10 towards the exit aperture 13, such that height H
can be less than
distance D to provide for the exit aperture 13 extending from a level L
greater than a top of the
shoulders 12, 14, for example. It is recognized that each of the shoulders 12,
14 are positioned
between the side surfaces 4 and the base 11. Further, each shoulder 12, 14
extends
advantageously between the surfaces 5, 6, such that the height H along any
point of the
shoulder 12, 14 is always above the base 11 (as measured from the bottom
surface 2). It is
recognized that the height H of the shoulder 12, 14 can be constant or varied
between the
surfaces 5,6, so long as the height H along any point of the shoulder 12, 14
is always above
the base 11, to address drips 20 (see Figure 7 further discussed below).
Advantageously, the
bottle 1 contains only one pair of opposing shoulders 12, 14 located on either
side of the spout
10, in order to facilitate and promote transfer 18 of liquid from one side 4
to the other side 4
surface (i.e. between the pair of shoulders 12, 14) while at the same time
inhibiting the transfer
of liquid between the front 5 and the back 6 surfaces, as well as to control
drip 20 direction
(further discussed below). This ordered transfer 18 of liquid from side 4 to
side 4, as facilitated
by the pair of shoulders 12, 14, also promotes mixing of the liquid contents
between an upper
region 4a and a lower region 4b, as further described below. Other current
designs, such as in
US Patent 346,551 for a container (see Figure 4), disadvantageously contain
more than two
raised portions (in this case four portions, one in each corner) adjacent to
the spout, which can
inhibit any ordered transfer of liquid within the bottle as well as any
controlled drip direction
provided by the bottle, as further discussed below.
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[0022] Referring again to Figure 5, the level L of the bottle 1 can
represent a fill level of
the liquid contents, recognizing that the level L is preferably at or below
the position of the base
11 of the spout 10. Advantageously, the volume of the shoulders 12, 14
positioned above the
base 11, as measured from the bottom surface 2, provide for an empty volume to
facilitate
agitation of the liquid contents when filled to the level L, in order to
aerate the liquid contents
and promote mixing of the liquid contents upon agitation by a user of the
bottle 1 before first
opening of the bottle 1 (e.g. while "full" to the level L). Also
advantageously, the top surface 8
shape is arcuate between the shoulders 12, 14, thereby facilitating the
transfer of the liquid
contents from one shoulder 12 to the other shoulder 14 during agitation (i.e.
between the two
shoulders 12, 14), in particular as the base 11 is situated between the
shoulders 12, 14 in order
to separate and define the individual empty (when the bottle 1 is positioned
on an adjacent
support surface 0) volumes contained within the shoulders 12, 14 that are
above the fill level L.
Further, referring to Figure 5, it is noted that the character of curvature of
the shoulders 12, 14
is the same as the character of curvature of an upper region 4a of the side
surfaces 4, such the
character of curvature for the upper region 4a is concave (as measured from
the interior 17) as
is the character of curvature for each of the shoulder regions 12, 14 (also as
measured from
the interior 17). As such, the empty volume of the shoulder regions 12 above
the fill level L (in
addition to the empty volume provided by the spout 10) can provide for
adequate clearance
space to facilitate agitation (i.e. shaking) of the liquid contents by the
user, in particular due to
the geometry of the pair of shoulder regions 12, 14 on either side 4 of the
bottle 1. It is
recognised that that the upper side portion 4a is directly adjacent to the
shoulder 12,14.
[0023] The same/continuous character of curvature (i.e. concave) for
both the shoulder
regions 12, 14 and the upper regions 4a is important, as this provides for
directed travel of the
liquid contents during agitation from one shoulder region 12 to the other
shoulder region 14, as
compared to an undesirable configuration of discontinuous character of
curvature shown in
Figure 10, i.e. a change from convex to concave via an inflection point
between the upper
surface 4a and the shoulder 12. Rather, as shown in Figure 5, an inflection
region l (providing
a convex curvature adjacent the inflection region l as measured from the
interior 17 of the
bottle1) is positioned between the upper regions 4a and lower regions 4b
(being convex as
measured from the interior 17) of the side surfaces 4, which also helps to
facilitate agitation of
the liquid contents via the directed transfer of the liquid contents between
the shoulder regions
12,14. It is also noted that presence of the inflection region l on the side
surfaces 4 can also
provide for a width Wb between the lower regions 4b being less than a width Wa
between the
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upper regions 4a, in order to facilitate holding and support of the bottle 1
by a hand of the user
during agitation and general usage of the bottle 1. It is recognized that the
presence of the
inflection region I on each side surface 4 also promotes the transfer 18 of
liquid between the
upper 4a and lower regions 4b during agitation, as the liquid is transferring
18 between the
opposing shoulder regions 12, 14.
[0024] Accordingly, circulation of the liquid contents in the interior 17
is facilitated by
presence of the shoulder regions 12, 14 on the top surface 8, including the
provision of the
empty volume of the shoulders regions 12, 14 above the fill level L. This can
be especially
important when the bottle 1 is first opened, as the liquid contents may have
settled over time
and therefore agitation of the contents prior to opening the bottle 1 for the
first time can be
important to provide a first experience to the user of the liquid product in
terms of homogeneity.
It is also an important consideration in that the amount of time required for
the user to
appropriately mix/agitate the liquid contents upon opening should be
minimized, in order to
minimize inconvenience or otherwise perception by the user of product
inferiority or questioning
of the product quality). Aeration of the product upon mixing can help to
minimize the time/effort
needed to appropriately agitate/mix the liquid.
[0025] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, it is noted that the front surface 5
and the back
surface 6 may not contain inflection regions I, rather a width Wt between the
surfaces 5,6 at
the top surface 8 is less than a width Wbot at the bottom surface 2, with a
character of curvature
of the surfaces 5,6 remaining consistent between the surfaces 2,8. The
difference between the
surfaces 5,6 and surfaces 4 with respect to inflection regions (i.e. surfaces
4 contain an
inflection region while surfaces 5,6 lack an inflection region),
advantageously provides for
promoting the ordered transfer 18 of the liquid contents (during agitation)
from side 4 to side 4
between the shoulder regions 12, 14, and therefore inhibits the ordered
transfer 18 of the liquid
contents (during agitation) between front 5 and back 6 between the shoulder
regions 12, 14.
Referring again to Figure 6, the character of curvature of the front 5 and
back 6 surfaces can
be substantially (e.g. a majority of the surface area) planar, concave, or
convex between the
surfaces 2,8, as desired. Preferably the character of curvature of the front 5
and back 6
surfaces are slightly concave, i.e. having a degree of curvature less than a
degree of curvature
of the shoulder regions 12, 14. Referring to Figure 2, it is recognized that
width Wt can be less
that width Wa. It is recognized that width Wt can be greater than width Wa. It
is recognized
that width Wt can be the same as width Wa. It is recognized that width Wbot
can be less that
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width Wb. It is recognized that width Wbot can be greater than width Wb. It is
recognized that
width Wbot can be the same as width Wa.
[0026] It is recognized that having inflection regions I on only the side
surfaces 4 and not
on the front 5 and back 6 surfaces can provide for a recognizable orientation
by the user to
consistently hold the bottle 1 during use. For example, in a side to side
grasp, the user may
prefer to pick up and support the bottle 1 by preferentially placing their
thumb on one side 4
adjacent to the inflection region I and their fingers (of the same hand) on
the other opposite
side 4 adjacent the respective reflection region I. Alternatively, in a front
to back grasp, the
user may prefer to pick up and support the bottle 1 by preferentially placing
their thumb on the
front surface 5 (or the back surface 6) and their fingers (of the same hand)
on the opposite back
surface 6 (or the front surface 5), such that their palm (of the same hand) is
positioned on one
of the sides 4 adjacent to its inflection region I. Having a preferential and
recognizable holding
orientation (i.e. side to side or front/back to back/front) by the user of the
bottle 1 facilitates
utilization of the presence of the pair of shoulders 12, 14 in facilitating
the direction of drips 20
from the rim 13 of the spout 10 towards the base 11 and then towards and down
the front 5
and/or back 6 surfaces rather than down the side surfaces 4. The controlled
direction of drips
20 are promoted by the presence of the pair of shoulders 12, 14, as drips 20
from the rim 13
are inhibited from travel up the shoulder 12, 14 due to the presence of the
shoulder volume
represented by height H when tilting of the bottle for pouring (see Figures
11a,b). This control
of drips 20 preferentially down the surface(s) 5,6 is also provided due to a
dip region DR in
height H between the opposed shoulder regions 12,14, thereby providing for
collection of the
drips 20 by the shoulder region(s) 12, 14 and directing via the top surface 8
towards the
surface(s) 5,6 via the dip region(s) DR. Preferably, the dip regions DR can be
configured such
that the character of curvature between the base 11 and the surface(s) 5,6,
via the corner
regions 9, is consistently (i.e. lack of inflection region I present) planar
or concave, so as to
promote the flow of the drips 20 from near the base 11 and down the surface(s)
5,6.
[0027] As such, the consistent character of curvature (i.e. lack of
inflection region l) of
the top surface 8 between the base 11 and surface(s) 5,6 inhibits the
collection and retention
of drip 20 volume around the base 11 and therefore promotes the controlled
direction of flow of
any drips 20 from near the base 11 and down the surface(s) 5,6. It is
recognized that rather
than both the surfaces 5,6 having a lack of inflection region I with respect
to the base 11, only
one of the surfaces can have a lack of the inflection region I in order to
promote flow of the drips
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20 towards one of the surfaces 5,6 while inhibiting the flow of drips 20
towards the other of the
surfaces 5,6 (i.e. due to the presence of an inflection region 1 between the
base 11 and the
other of the surfaces 5,6). For example, the bottle of claim 1 comprising a
lack of inflection
region 1 in the top surface 8 between the base 11 and the adjacent respective
second arcuate
regions 9, thereby providing for a consistent character of curvature between
the top surface 8
adjacent the base 11 and the front surface 5. For example, the bottle
comprising a lack of
inflection region 1 in the top surface 8 between the base 11 and the adjacent
respective second
arcuate regions 9, thereby providing for a consistent character of curvature
between the top
surface 8 adjacent the base 11 and the back surface 6.
[0028] Consequently, the present of the pair of opposed shoulder regions
12, 14 promote
the ordered transfer 18 of the liquid within the interior 17 of the bottle 1,
while at the same time
provide for controlled direction of the drips 10 of the liquid external to the
bottle 1. The
appropriate level of agitation for the liquid contents is important to provide
adequate mixing of
the liquid contents prior to pouring via the spout 10, in order to provide for
a consistent product
experience by the user (i.e. liquid contents are considered/experienced as
consistent in their
composition for each pour). However, the appropriate direction control of
drips 20 is also
important to the user, as users preferably want to consistently control drips
away from their
hands/body and towards the interior of a sink, thus facilitating a cleaner
user and a cleaner
bathroom environment.
[0029] Referring to Figure 3, shown are the legs 3 of the bottom surface
2. The bottom
surface 2 has at least one major inflection region 11 (providing a convex
curvature adjacent the
inflection region 11 as measured from the interior 17 of the bottle) between
the pair of opposed
legs 3, i.e. between the side surfaces 4. It is recognized that optionally the
leg(s) 3 can also
have a second minor inflection region 12 (providing a convex curvature
adjacent the inflection
region 12 as measured from the interior 17 of the bottle), i.e. between the
surfaces 5,6. Thus,
the legs 3 provide two (for only inflection region 11) or more (with optional
inflection region(s)
12) localized and separated support surfaces, i.e. at the distal ends of the
legs 3, for supporting
the bottle 1 in a stable orientation when resting on an adjacent support
surface 0 (see Figure
6, e.g. sink or bathroom shelf). In terms of major and minor, it is recognized
that the degree
of convex curvature for the minor inflection region 12 is less than the degree
of convex curvature
for the major inflection region 11.
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[0030] In terms of positioning the bottle 1 on the adjacent support
surface 0, it is
recognized that article/object real estate (available space to position
objects 22,23 shown in
ghosted view of Figure 5) on the support surface(s) 0 in bathrooms can be at a
premium (i.e.
limited). This limited real estate on the support surface(s) 0 can be because
of the larger
number of articles 22,23 (e.g. shampoo, mouthwash, tooth brush, toothpaste,
hair brush,
makeup, etc.) typically present in the bathroom, and/or due to the lack of
suitable positions on
the support surface(s) due to curved geometry of the support surface(s) 0
(i.e. rounded sink
edges). The present bottle 1 design with shoulders 12, 14 in conjunction with
the inflection
regions I on the side surfaces 4 can facilitate room for positioning smaller
articles 23 (e.g.
toothbrush, toothpaste) adjacent to the side surface(s) 4 and on the support
surface 0, when
the width Wb is less than width Wa, without interfering with the simultaneous
placement of taller
articles 22 adjacent to the bottle 1 on the support surface 0, see Figures 5,
6.
[0031] Referring to Figure 1, the arcuate (i.e. concave) shape of the
regions 7, 9 can
inhibit indentation(s) from forming in the walls of the bottle 1, in the event
the bottle 1 is dropped
from height by the user. Figure 8 shows a top view of the bottle 1 with
shoulder regions 12, 14,
inflection region 1 and spout 10 of the top surface 8. Figure 9 shows a bottom
surface 2 view
of the bottle 1 including the legs 3, the inflection region 11 and the
optional inflection region 12.
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