Equilateral triangle bottle

Abstract

A bottle (8) made of a plastic material used for dispensing liquid products, having three equal length edges (22) together composing three tips (24) forming an equilateral triangle with three separate base edges. A nozzle (10) located at one tip will be used for dispensing the contained product and will be comprised of a series of threads. A cap (12) made of a plastic material is to cover the nozzle so that it is tightly bound to the shape of an equilateral triangle.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application is entitled to the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. #60/202913 filed May 9, 2000.

BACKGROUND

[0003] 1. Field of Inventions

[0004] This invention relates to plastic bottles for dispensing food and non-food products.

[0005] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0006] Conventional bottles all have the same functional design. Namely the nozzle for dispensing is located at the top (highest point) of the bottle. Conventional bottles each provide unique aesthetic characteristics that identify the bottle to the brand, but the nozzle is always located at the top, and the bottom is located directly below it.

[0007] The functional design of conventional bottles has remained the same for years, typically a cylindrical shape. Though there would be new designs, the functionality in the shape never enhanced the bottle's performance. The only changes were in aesthetics.

[0008] The triangle bottle detailed here features a new design, which enhances the bottles performance as well as offering a cosmetic difference over conventional flute neck, cylinder shaped bottle designs. All bottles heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages:

[0009] (a) The bottles dispensing nozzle is always located at the top, meaning the bottle must be turned in greater angles from vertical to dispense the product.

[0010] (b) Due to the bottles top/down orientation, the contents always settle towards the bottom. The bottle must be turned upside down to dispense the product. A considerable amount of time must pass to dispense viscous materials.

[0011] (c) Conventional bottles and their nonsymmetrical shapes are awkward to use. These bottles are unable to be stored or placed in a variety of positions. Conventional bottles have one way of standing upright, any other positions renders them unbalanced and unstable.

[0012] (d) Without a symmetrical shape it is impossible to conveniently store and stack the bottles. In supermarkets and stores, shelf space is an important commodity. Conventional bottles must be stacked one bottle high, thus using up more shelf space.

[0013] (e) Packaging of conventional bottles cannot be stacked upward, requiring more packaging with fewer bottles.

[0014] Ultimately increasing the cost of distribution.

SUMMARY

[0015] In accordance with present invention a triangle bottle comprises of a bottle in the shape of an equilateral triangle composed of polypropylene plastic, with an internal cavity and a dispensing nozzle at one tip.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

[0016] The following advantages are due to the unique design of an equilateral triangle bottle:

[0017] (a) The Triangle bottle can be placed on any of the five sides, with most of the advantage being gained by placing the bottle on any of its three edges. The triangle bottle design has no true up or down, due to the fact that all edges are equal and the bottle maintains constant symmetry. This also enhances the bottles ability to remain stable and balanced in those positions.

[0018] (b) The triangle bottle can be placed in such a fashion so that the dispensing nozzle is at the bottom. This has the advantage of having the contents already at the nozzle, ready for immediate dispensing.

[0019] (c) The ability to place the bottle on any side minimizes the need to rotate the bottle for dispensing of the product. The overall experience of dispensing the product is made easier, more convenient and less strenuous.

[0020] (d) The symmetric design and shape offer stack-ability, thus enabling supermarket stores to place more bottles within the same amount of shelf space. Thus making the end product more valuable and readily accessible. FIG. 6.

[0021] (e) The same characteristic of stack-ability enables space saving and improves packaging for market distribution.

[0022] The triangle bottle can be manipulated in such a way as to be stored in a rectangular shaped packaging as well as circular shaped packaging. Placing the bottles edge to edge can form rectangular shaped packages. Placing the bottles tip to tip can form circular shaped packages. FIG. 5.

DRAWING FIGURES

[0023] FIGS. 1A to 1C demonstrate the triangle bottle and cap, standing on two of its three edges.

[0024] FIGS. 2A to 2C demonstrate the triangle bottle without the cap standing on two of its three edges.

[0025] FIGS. 3A and 3B shows the triangle bottle with three separate internal compartments.

[0026] FIG. 4 demonstrates three separate external compartments that can be glued together to form one bottle.

[0027] FIG. 5 shows how the triangle bottles can be packaged in a circular fashion.

[0028] FIG. 6 shows how supermarkets can stack the triangle bottles on store shelves.

[0029] 1 Reference Numerals In Drawings 8 Bottle 10 Nozzle 12 Cap 14 Divider 16 Compartment 1 18 Compartment 2 20 Compartment 3 22 Edge 24 Tip

DESCRIPTION-PREFERENCE EMBODIMENT

[0030] The preferred embodiment for the triangle bottle is illustrated in FIG. 1B. The shape of the triangle bottle consists of an equilateral triangle. Each edge 22 has the same length. The width of the bottle can be of any size depending on the requirements. At one tip 24 a neck is created with a series of threads composing the nozzle 10. The threads can be of any size to provide adequate fastening. The length of the nozzle 10 must be of a length, so that when the cap 12 is in place, it is flush with two of the edges 22 and maintains the dimensions of an equilateral triangle. The cap 12 can be of any design. The shape of the cap 12 must be such as to be flush with both edges 22 of the triangle and maintain the dimensions of an equilateral triangle.

[0031] The materials used for the manufacture of the triangle bottle are varied. Any substance that allows the manufacture of a bottle in the shape of an equilateral triangle, and that has enough flexibility to allow the bottle to be squeezed without fracture is adequate. Furthermore, the material (or materials) can be composed of material that is safe to store foods and be able to withstand high temperatures when appropriate. The ideal material would be polypropylene, however polyethylene can also be used. By no means is the triangle bottle limited to materials listed heretofore or otherwise.

[0032] The manufacturing technique for the triangle bottle is blow molding. In this process a mold is created in the shape of the triangle bottle. The polypropylene material is then blown up like a balloon to fill the mold cavity. The mold is then cooled and the bottle is created.

[0033] FIGS. 3A and 3B—Additional Embodiments

[0034] Additional embodiments are shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Taking full advantage of the symmetric shape of an equilateral triangle, three disjoint compartments 16 18 20 are created having a nozzle 10 at each tip. Each cavity is separate from the other, separated by dividing walls 14 enclosed within the bottle. The nozzles are manufactured in accordance with the “preferred embodiments” specifications.

[0035] FIG. 4—Alternative Embodiments

[0036] The foregoing embodiment is similar in functionality to the three-compartment embodiment with three distinguishing characteristic. This embodiment comprises of three separate external compartments. Each compartment is then attached together using some method of attachment to create the three- compartment triangle bottle.

[0037] Advantages—Additional embodiment

[0038] Though the single cavity triangle bottle is quite advantageous in it's own right, the three-cavity triangle bottle enhances upon the symmetrical quality of the original embodiment.

[0039] (a) The unique nature of a three-cavity triangle bottle, allows three different products to be sold in a single container, making it even more convenient to the consumer and more advantageous the manufacturer.

[0040] (b) Reduces waste by reducing the need for more containers.

[0041] (c) Groups associated products together, making it convenient to use.

[0042] The bottle consists of an equilateral triangle made of polypropylene, which has sides and edges, all of equal length, but of varying lengths.

[0043] Conclusion, Ramification and Scope

[0044] The unique nature of the triangle bottle provides an advantage over all other bottles heretofore. The triangle bottle has no such thing as a “bottom” and a “top”. It can be placed on any side without harm. The advantage of placing the triangle bottle on any side is that the contents will be closer to the nozzle for quicker dispensing and less waste of the product. Furthermore, because the contents are now located at the nozzle, the bottle will require less angle of rotation to dispense the product. This can be very advantageous to the elderly, since the bottle does not require a 180° rotation from vertical to dispense the product.

[0045] The embodiments represented in FIGS. 1A and 3A are but two of many which may be realized in accordance with the invention and which may vary with variable requirements, various materials, and various forming processes and equipment.

[0046] Further, although the foregoing description is concerned with plastic containers, it will be apparent that the invention in its broader aspects may be applied with beneficial results to containers formed of other materials. Similarly, the invention is not practicable using only molds for blow-molding bottles but may be practiced as well in conjunction with other container-forming matrices.

[0047] Accordingly, while the invention has been particularly described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, and the scope of the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.

Claims

1. A container, comprising:

(a) The shape of an equilateral triangle of variable dimensions.

(b) The shape of claim (a) wherein said body contains a nozzle at one, two, or all of the three tips.

(c) The shape of claim (a) wherein said body is composed of plastic material.