DISPENSING BOTTLE

Abstract

Described is a plastic bottle fitted with a one-way check valve and an inner bladder containing a substance such as mustard or ketchup. When squeezed, the substance is dispensed from an inner bladder through an aperture in the top. When released, air is allowed into the bottle through the valve to displace the substance dispensed. Since the valve will not allow air out of the bottle, the bladder continuously shrinks until all the substance is dispensed without any waste or the need to strike the bottle or store it upside down. No air comes into contact with the substance thus avoiding bacterial contamination.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention refers to a flexible plastic bottle or container for dispensing liquids or viscous substances from an inner, elastic bladder when squeezed. When released, a one-way check valve on the surface of the bottle allows air into the bottle to displace the substance dispensed from the bladder. The one-way check valve will not allow air out of the bottle. Thus, repeated squeezing and releasing maintains the air pressure on the inner bladder causing the bladder to continue to shrink until all the substance has been dispensed, thus eliminating waste of any un-dispensed substance. No air is allowed to enter the inner bladder or come into contact with the substance contained therein, thus eliminating bacterial contamination or degradation of the substance.

The bottle may be used to dispense substances such as ketchup, mustard, salad dressings and other condiments of varying viscosities. It may also be used for dispensing body care products such as shampoos and body conditioners. This bottle is also useful for dispensing beverages and other liquids. The existing types of dispensing containers and bottles used today, allow air to enter the bottle and come into direct contact with the contents. This causes the contents to be contaminated with bacteria from the air, thus creating a health risk. It also allows the contents to separate, break down, degrade and harden causing the contents to be inedible or unusable. When the substance is dispensed from an existing bottle, it sticks to the sides of the bottle, and the bottle has to be struck to get the contents to the top outlet of the bottle in order to dispense the substance. In many cases the air in the bottle causes unpleasant sounds and an unwanted splatter of the substance on to one's person, clothing, table top, or furniture as it is being dispensed. Some bottles are manufactured with large flat tops that allow the bottle to be stored upside-down causing the contents to flow to the top of the bottle by gravity. Even without the flat top, these bottles and containers are often stored upside down to allow the contents to flow downward by gravity, in an attempt to dispense as much of the contents as possible and to avoid waste. Depending on their viscosity, some of the contents adhere to the sides of the bottle and are thrown away and wasted.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is to allow the contents within the bottle to remain in an air-free environment, thus virtually eliminating the risk of bacteria coming into contact with the contents and consequently creating a health risk. The air-free environment will also reduce separation, degradation, and hardening of the contents over time, and avoids splatter when the contents are dispensed. Another object is that, since no air is allowed to mix with the contents, the contents may not need to be refrigerated for longer periods of time without spoiling. Another object is to allow the contents to be dispensed from the bottle without the need to strike the bottle to move the contents to the top. Another object is that the bottle may now be stored upright, or in any other position, and the contents will always be at the top opening ready for release no matter how much substance is left in the bottle. This avoids the need to store the bottle upside down in order to allow the contents to flow to the top by gravity. Another object is that this invention reduces waste by allowing virtually all the contents to be dispensed from the bottle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1

FIG. 1 represents all the parts associated with the Dispensing Bottle.

FIG. 1-1 represents a bottle of any size and shape manufactured of a flexible material that, when the bottle is squeezed and released, returns the bottle to its original shape.

FIG. 1-2 represents an inner container, membrane or bladder, manufactured from a thin elastic or rubberized material that holds the substance to be dispensed.

FIG. 1-3 represents the air space between the inside bottle and the bladder.

FIG. 1-4 represents the substance within the bladder to be dispensed.

FIG. 1-5 represents the one way check valve that allows air into the bottle.

FIG. 1-6 represents an aperture to allow the contents of the bladder to be released.

FIG. 1-7 represents a protective cap over the aperture.

FIG. 2 represents the bottle fully assembled with partially dispensed substance to allow for description of its operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS SHOWING THE OPERATION OF THE DISPENSING BOTTLE—FIG. 2

The present invention relates to a bottle (FIG. 2-1) that allows a substance such as ketchup, mustard or shampoo to be dispensed by squeezing the bottle. The inner bladder (FIG. 2-2) is filled with a substance (FIG. 2-4). Squeezing the bottle allows the air (FIG. 2-3) inside the bottle to apply pressure to the inner bladder that is filled with the substance, thus forcing the contents from the bladder through the top aperture of the bottle (FIG. 2-6). Releasing the pressure on the bottle allows the bottle to return to its original shape and, at the same time, allows more air to be drawn into the bottle through the one-way check valve (FIG. 2-5) to replace the dispensed substance. The check valve may be placed anywhere on the bottle as long as the air is allowed to enter the valve and into the space between the bladder and the bottle. The next time the bottle is squeezed, the air inside the bottle is prevented from escaping due to the one-way check valve (FIG. 2-5), thereby applying pressure to the inner bladder containing the substance and forcing it out through the top aperture. A protective cap (FIG. 2.7) over the top aperture prevents the collection of bacteria.

REFERENCES CITED

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

U.S. Pat. No. 297,174 April 1884 Seymour . . . 222/482 X

U.S. Pat. No. 1,761,164 June. 1930 Wilson . . . 222/482

U.S. Pat. No. 2,560,761 July 1951 Ferguson . . . 222/143 X

U.S. Pat. No. 2,838,211 June 1958 Piker . . . 222/143 X

U.S. Pat. No. 3,159,320 December 1964 Scholtz . . . 222/482 X

U.S. Pat. No. 3,325,031 June 1967 Singier . . . 222/215

U.S. Pat. No. 3,378,177 April 1968 Guan . . . 222/482

U.S. Pat. No. 3,545,651 December 1970 Lewis . . . 222/181

U.S. Pat. No. 3,603,366 September 1971 Albizati et al . . . 150/0.5

U.S. Pat. No. 4,207,990 June 1980 Weiler et al . . . 220/267

U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,045 November 1981 Weiler et al . . . 150/0.5

U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,569 September 1988 Larsson . . . 222/181

U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,314 November 1988 Schoonover . . . 222/465.1

U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,075 August 1990 Lundback . . . 222/181

U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,554 June 1992 Arvidson et al . . . 215/12.2

U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,136 August 1992 Tignor . . . 222/212

U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,965 October 1994 Lee . . . 222/143

Claims

1. A dispensing bottle or container for dispensing a food substance, such as ketchup, mustard or a cosmetic substance such as hair conditioner or shampoo, that is manufactured from any flexible material such as PVC plastic.

a) A bottle that is equipped with an inner elastic bladder, or other stretchable container, that is capable of being filled with a substance without the substance itself coming in contact with the inside walls of the bottle.

b) A bottle containing a one-way valve which will not allow air to escape from the inside of the bottle when the bottle is squeezed but allows air into the bottle when the bottle is released.

c) A bottle that has an aperture at one end to force a substance to escape when the bottle is squeezed.

d) A bottle cap that will allow the aperture to be sealed when not in use.

2. A dispensing bottle in claim 1 wherein the bottle is manufactured from a flexible material that will return the bottle to its original shape after being squeezed and released.

3. A dispensing bottle in claim 1 wherein a thin, elastic, inner bladder stretches to fill the outer bottle when the bladder is filled with a substance to be dispensed.

4. A dispensing bottle in claim 1 wherein a one-way check valve located on the surface of the outer bottle will not allow air out of the bottle when it is squeezed, but will allow air into the bottle when the bottle is released.

5. A dispensing bottle in claim 1 wherein an aperture allows a substance to be forced from the inner bladder by the act of squeezing the bottle.

6. A dispensing bottle in claim 1 where the inner bladder prevents any air from coming into contact with a contained substance, preventing bacterial degradation, hardening or break down of the substance.

7. A dispensing bottle in claim 1 wherein an inner bladder contracts as the contained substance is dispensed by the act of squeezing the bottle. After releasing the bottle, the bladder stays in its contracted state because air is allowed into the space between the bottle and the bladder by the one way check valve. The said air displaces the space previously occupied by the dispensed product.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the repeated squeezing and releasing of the bottle causes the inner bladder to shrink as it dispenses more of its contained substance through the aperture. The inner bladder will continue to shrink as the substance is dispensed until virtually all the substance has been dispensed from it.