Container

Abstract

A container for a consumable product, wherein the container has a first side surface having one or more protrusions, and a second side surface having one or more indentations, wherein said protrusions correspond with said indentations such that like containers are able to be interconnected by insertion of protrusions of one container in indentations of another container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a container, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a bottle for containing a drink.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bottled drinks are commonly sold in plastic bottles, for example, over the counter at bars, at restaurants and cafes, and from refrigerators in milk bars, convenience stores and supermarkets. Plastic bottles used for containing drinks serve not only the fundamental function of containing the drinking liquid, but also the function of distinguishing between products. It is desirable for drinks to be sold in bottles which are distinguished from other bottles used for other bottled drink products so as to have potential for attracting purchasers.

The applicant has identified that bottled drinks are typically sold in relatively generically shaped bottles which fail to “stand out” in a crowded marketplace, and that it would be advantageous for bottled drinks to be provided in distinctively shaped containers which are attractive to consumers and which are easily recognisable. More particularly, the applicant has identified that it would be advantageous for bottled drinks to be supplied in bottles which are collectible so that, after consumption of the drink the consumer is encouraged to retain the bottle rather than discarding same as waste. One way for this to be achieved is by providing the bottles in a form which enables them to be used with other like bottles and, particularly in the case of bottled drinks for children, which enables them to be used with other like bottles so as to provide entertainment/education.

Examples of the invention seek to provide improved containers of consumable products which provide a secondary purpose after consumption of the product, such that the consumer is encouraged to retain and collect the containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container for a consumable product, wherein the container has a first side surface having one or more protrusions, and a second side surface having one or more indentations, wherein said protrusions correspond with said indentations such that like containers are able to be interconnected by insertion of protrusions of one container in indentations of another container.

Preferably, the consumable product is a drink. More preferably, the consumable product is a children's drink. Even more preferably, the consumable product is drinking water.

Preferably, the second side surface is opposite the first side surface. More preferably, a storage volume of the container is defined between the first and second side surfaces. Preferably, the side surfaces are generally flat, the protrusions extend outwardly from the first side surface, and the indentations are indented inwardly from the second side surface.

Preferably, the protrusions and indentations are arranged to allow a first container to be interconnected with a second container either with both containers in a parallel orientation or with the containers in mutually perpendicular orientations.

Preferably, the protrusions and indentations are arranged in rows and columns on the first and second side surfaces, respectively. More preferably, the rows and columns have equal spacing. Even more preferably, the container is dimensioned such that like containers placed in adjacent side-by-side relationship with respective first side surfaces facing in a common direction maintain even spacing of the protrusions across the interface between the containers.

Preferably, the container is generally cubic. More preferably, the container is in the general shape of a rectangular cube, and the first and second side surfaces correspond with the sides of the rectangular cube having the greatest surface areas. More preferably still, the first and second side surfaces have a length twice their width. In one form, the protrusions are arranged in four rows along the length of the first side surface and in two columns along the width of the first side, and the indentations are correspondingly arranged on the second side surface.

Preferably, the container has an opening in one end surface thereof. More preferably, the end surface corresponds with one of the sides of the rectangular cube having a smallest surface area. Preferably, the opening is threaded for engagement with a threaded closure.

In one form, the opening is flush with the end surface. This allows the container to be placed in end-to-end relationship with a second like container, while allowing an opposite end surface of the container to be flat. In this form, the closure is in the form of a threaded stopper.

In an alternative form, the opening extends in a neck extending outwardly of the end surface, the neck being externally threaded for receiving an internally threaded cap. In this form, an opposite end surface of the container is recessed to accommodate the capped opening of a second like container when the two containers are placed in end-to-end relationship.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a container for a consumable product in accordance with a first example;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a container of indefinite length, similar to the container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an end view of one end of the container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an end view of an opposite end of the container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of a container for a consumable product in accordance with a second example;

FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the container shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of a container of indefinite length, similar to the container shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the container shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a botton view of the container shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is a side view of the container shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 15 is an end view of one end of the container shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 16 is an end view of an opposite end of the container shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 17 is a top/end perspective view of one end of a container for a consumable product in accordance with a third example;

FIG. 18 is a top/end perspective view of an opposite end of the container shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a bottom/end perspective view of one end of the container shown in FIG. 17; and

FIG. 20 is a bottom/end perspective view of an opposite end of the container shown in FIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 to 8 show a container 10 for containing a consumable product in accordance with the first example. In the particular example shown, the container 10 is a bottle for containing a drink product for distribution, sale and consumption of the drink product. The drink product may be, for example, bottled water,

The container 10 has a first side surface 12 having one or more protrusions 14, and a second side surface 16 having one or more indentations 18. The protrusions 14 correspond with the indentations 18 such that like containers are able to be interconnected by insertion of the protrusions 14 of one container in indentations 18 of another container. Accordingly, after consumption of the drink from within the container 10, the container 10 is able to be retained and collected, for example by the consumer who may be a child, for use as a toy building block.

Although it is foreseen that the container 10 would be particularly suitable for containing drinking water for consumption by children, particularly as the healthy aspect of drinking water would tie in with the healthy connotation of constructive building block toys, the container 10 could also be used for containing other types of drinks and, more generally, other types of consumable products.

In the example shown, the second side surface 16 is opposite the first side surface 12, and a storage volume 20 of the container 10 for containing the consumable product is defined therebetween. The side surfaces 12, 16 are generally flat such that like containers 10 are able to be interconnected in a stacked relationship, with the second side surface 16 of an upper container flat against a first side surface of a lower container, when the protrusions 14 of the lower container are pressed into the indentations 18 of the upper container. The protrusions 14 extend outwardly from the first side surface 12, and the indentations 18 are indented inwardly from the second side surface 16.

The protrusions 14 and indentations 18 are corresponding sized, shaped and positioned such that when the protrusions 14 are pressed into the indentations 18 they are held in the indentations 18 by way of interference fit. Resilience in the material from which the containers are manufactured, for example plastic, enable easy assembly, disassembly and reassembly of the containers, one relative to the other.

As the protrusions 14 and indentations 18 are arranged in a regular grid of rows 22 and columns 24, the rows 22 being spaced by an equal distance “d” to the spacing between the columns 24, like containers are able to be interconnected either with both containers in a mutually parallel orientation or with the containers in mutually perpendicular orientations. Also, containers may be formed in different sizes, while still maintaining the same spacing “d” between the rows and columns of protrusions and indentations so as to maintain interconnectable compatibility between the differently sized containers. For example, the container may be longer or shorter than shown in FIG. 1, as represented in FIG. 3 with the drawing of a container having indefinite length.

Returning to FIG. 1, the container 10 is dimensioned with a spacing 26 of “d”/2 between the protrusions 14 and the outside edges of the container 10 such that like containers placed in adjacent side-by-side relationship with respective first side surfaces 12 facing in a common direction will maintain even spacing of distance “d” between the protrusions 14 across the interface between the containers. In this way, a third like container 10 is able to be interconnected across the interface such that the indentations 18 of the third container receive protrusions 14 of more than one other container.

Although the container 10 is generally cubic, alternative containers may be formed in other shapes within the scope of the invention. Nevertheless, it is advantageous of the generally cubic form of the container 10 depicted that like containers can be located adjacent the container in face-to-face relationship on all six sides of the container 10. Also, although the container 10 shown is in the general shape of a rectangular cube, it will be understood that other containers may be provided in other cubic shapes such as, for example, square cubes, L-shaped cubes etc.

In the present example, the first and second side surfaces 12, 16 correspond with the rectangular sides of the rectangular cube having the greatest surface areas. The first 12 and second side surfaces 16 have a length twice their width such that the protrusions 14 are arranged in four rows 22 along the length of the first side surface 12 and in two columns 24 along the width of the first side surface 12. Similarly, the indentations 18 are arranged in four rows 22 along the length of the second side surface 16 and in two columns 24 along the width of the second side surface 12.

The container 10 has an opening 28 in one end surface 30 thereof. The end surface 30 corresponds with one of the sides of the rectangular cube having a smallest surface area. The opening 28 is in communication with the storage volume 20 for filling and dispensing the consumable product into and out of the container 10. The opening 28 is threaded for engagement with a threaded closure 32. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the opening 28 is flush with the end surface 30, thus allowing the container 10 to be placed in end-to-end relationship with a second like container, with an opposite end surface 34 of the container 10 being flat. In this example, the closure 32 is in the form of a threaded stopper which threads into the opening 28 to form a seal for containing the consumable product within the volume 20.

The alternative examples provided, in particular the second example shown in FIGS. 10 to 16 and the third example shown in FIGS. 17 to 20, are similar to the first example (with like features being indicated with like reference numerals) except that in those alternative examples the opening 28 is in the form of a neck 36 extending outwardly of the end surface 30. The neck 36 is externally threaded for receiving an internally threaded cap 32. In these examples, an opposite end surface 34 of the container 10 has a recess 38 to accommodate the capped opening of a second like container when the two containers are placed in end-to-end relationship.

The container has been described above by way of examples only, and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A container for a consumable product, wherein the container has a first side surface having one or more protrusions, and a second side surface having one or more indentations, wherein said protrusions correspond with said indentations such that like containers are able to be interconnected by insertion of protrusions of one container in indentations of another container.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the consumable product is a drinking liquid.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second side surface is opposite the first side surface.

4. A container as claimed in claim 3, wherein a storage volume of the container is defined between the first and second side surfaces.

5. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side surfaces are generally flat, the protrusions extend outwardly from the first side surface, and the indentations are indented inwardly from the second side surface.

6. A container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the protrusions and indentations are arranged to allow a first container to be interconnected with a second container either with both containers in a parallel orientation or with the containers in mutually perpendicular orientations.

7. A container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the protrusions and indentations are arranged in rows and columns on the first and second side surfaces, respectively.

8. A container as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rows and columns have equal spacing.

9. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container is dimensioned such that like containers placed in adjacent side-by-side relationship with respective first side surfaces facing in a common direction maintain even spacing of the protrusions across the interface between the containers.

10. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container is generally cubic.

11. A container as claimed in claim 10, wherein the container is in the general shape of a rectangular cube, and the first and second side surfaces correspond with the sides of the rectangular cube having the greatest surface areas.

12. A container as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and second side surfaces have a length twice their width.

13. A container as claimed in claim 12, wherein the protrusions are arranged in four rows along the length of the first side surface and in two columns along the width of the first side, and the indentations are correspondingly arranged on the second side surface.

14. A container as claimed in claim 13, wherein the container has an opening in one end surface thereof.

15. A container as claimed in claim 14, wherein the end surface corresponds with one of the sides of the rectangular cube having a smallest surface area.

16. A container as claimed in claim 14, wherein the opening is threaded for engagement with a threaded closure.

17. A container as claimed in claim 14, wherein the opening is flush with the end surface.

18. A container as claimed in claim 14, wherein the opening extends in a neck extending outwardly of the end surface, the neck being externally threaded for receiving an internally threaded cap.

19. A container as claimed in claim 18, wherein an opposite end surface of the container is recessed to accommodate the capped opening of a second like container when the two containers are placed in end-to-end relationship.