Storage bottle

Abstract

Storage bottles are generally discussed herein with specific discussions extended to storage bottles having a round body section and a base with at least one straight edge. In accordance with certain aspects of the present invention, the base comprises four straight edges and four generally right comers. A transition section is disposed between the round body section and the base, which has a configuration that is neither generally circular or generally square.

Description

Storage bottles are generally discussed herein with specific discussions extended to storage bottles having a round body section and a base with at least one straight edge.

BACKGROUND

Glass storage bottles come in many shapes and sizes for storing a variety of different products. In the beauty supply industry, storage bottles not only provide certain aesthetic appeal, but are sized to hold a defined volume common to the industry. For example, a nail polish bottle is generally sized to hold 0.55 FL OZ or 16 ML.

Typical prior art bottles have uniform tops and bottoms. In other words, if the bottle body section, or top, is round in configuration, the bottle base, or bottom, is also round in configuration. Also in the prior art is a bottle having a round front wall, a round rear wall, a flat side wall, and a truncated base, which resembles a flattened apple with a truncated bottom.

While prior art storage bottles are viable options for their intended applications, there remains a need for alternative storage bottles.

SUMMARY

The present invention may be implemented by providing a storage bottle assembly comprising a cap and a storage bottle, said storage bottle comprising a bottle neck, a body section defining a longitudinal axis, and a base, wherein the body section comprises a wall surface having a generally circular cross section as measured from the longitudinal axis; and wherein the base comprises four edges defining a generally square configuration.

In accordance with other aspects of the present invention, there is provided a storage bottle assembly comprising a cap and a storage bottle, said storage bottle comprising a bottle neck, a body section defining a longitudinal axis, a base, and a transition section disposed therebetween; wherein the body section comprises a wall surface having a generally circular cross section as measured from the longitudinal axis; and wherein the base comprises four edges comprising four right corners.

In yet other aspects of the present invention, there is provided a method for forming a bottle assembly, said method comprising: forming a cap comprising internal threads; forming a storage bottle, said storage bottle comprising a bottle neck, a body section defining a longitudinal axis, and a base, wherein the body section comprises a wall surface having a generally circular cross section as measured from the longitudinal axis; and wherein the base comprises four edges defining a generally square configuration; and placing the cap over the bottle neck.

Other aspects and variations of the storages bottles summarized above are also contemplated and will be more fully understood when considered with respect to the following disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become appreciated as the same become better understood with reference to the specification, claims and appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a semi-schematic perspective view of a storage bottle and cap provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a semi-schematic perspective view of the storage bottle and cap of FIG. 1 from a different perspective;

FIG. 3 is a semi-schematic perspective view of the storage bottle and cap of FIG. 1 from yet another perspective;

FIG. 4 is a semi-schematic side view of the storage bottle of FIG. 1 without the cap;

FIG. 5 is a semi-schematic partial transparent side view of the cap of FIG. 1 without the storage bottle;

FIG. 6 is a semi-schematic cross-sectional side view of the bottle and cap of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a semi-schematic end view of the bottle and cap of FIG. 6 taken along line F7-F7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of storage bottles and caps provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the features and the steps for constructing and using the bottles and caps of the present invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and structures may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. As denoted elsewhere herein, like element numbers are intended to indicate like or similar elements or features.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a semi-schematic perspective view of a bottle assembly provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention is shown, which is generally designated 10. The bottle assembly 10 comprises a storage bottle 12 and a cap 14. In one exemplary embodiment, the cap 14 comprises a tapered base section 16 and a tapered top section 17. The tapered base section 16 tapers radially inwardly towards a longitudinal axis defined by the cap from the direction of the cap opening 18 towards the cap top surface 20 while the tapered top section tapers radially inwardly in the opposite direction. The two tapered sections 16, 17 intersect at an intersection 22, which is preferably located closer to the cap top surface 20 than the cap opening 18.

In one exemplary embodiment, the storage bottle 12 comprises a shoulder 24 extending at a first taper angle from a neck base 26, which extends from a bottle neck 28 (FIG. 4). A body section 30 extends distally from the shoulder 24, which has a top edge 32 disposed therebetween. The storage bottle 12 defines a central longitudinal axis 34. In one exemplary embodiment, the body section 30 defines a plurality or mathematically infinite number of circular rings along a plurality or mathematically infinite number of planes perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis 34, which shall be referred to hereinafter simply as plurality. The plurality of circular rings may vary in diameter and in one exemplary embodiment decrease in diameter as they extend distally away from the bottle neck 28. However, the plurality of circular rings may have a uniform diameter or increase in diameter as they extend distally away from the bottle neck 28 without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In one exemplary embodiment, the storage bottle 12 is made from glass and the bottle cap 14 from a hard plastic such as PET, high density HDE plastic, ABS, PVC, plastic composites such as ABS/SAN, or nylon. Fabrication of prior art glass bottles are well known in the art, which typically involves the use of blow mold assemblies. I.S. (individual section) glass forming machines are specific blow mold assemblies used to make glass bottles. Exemplary blow mold assemblies are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,857,291; 6,705,121; and 6,233,973, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in full.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a perspective view of the bottle assembly 10 of FIG. 1 is shown from a different viewing angle. In one exemplary embodiment, the storage bottle 12 comprises a generally square base 36 comprising four generally straight edges 38 and having approximately four right angles. Preferably, the straight edges 38 intersect at four round corners 40 to eliminate high stress points. Although the four edges define a square base, the storage bottle 12 may incorporate a rectangular base, which also comprises four generally straight edges.

In one exemplary embodiment, a plurality of spaced-apart ridges or protrusions 42 are incorporated on the base 36. The protrusions 42 are typical with prior art nail polish bottles. In a preferred embodiment, one or more protrusions are omitted along at least one of the edges 38. Most preferably, one protrusion 44 is omitted along one of the edges 38 for distinguishing the bottle assembly 10 of the present embodiment from other prior art bottles, when viewing only the base. A circular recess 46 is incorporated in the base 36 for product labeling purposes. A product label comprising a bar code may be affixed to the circular recess 46 for identification purposes.

As the storage bottle 12 transitions from a series of circular cross-sectional body sections to a square base, a bottle transitional section 48 is incorporated near the base 36, which has neither a true circular cross-sectional or a true rectangular cross-sectional configuration. As used herein, the words “generally circular” and “generally square” include a perfect circle or a perfect square and circles and squares that are not perfect, i.e., including a slight taper, angle, or imperfections.

FIG. 4 is a semi-schematic side view of the storage bottle 12 of FIG. 1. The bottle neck 28 incorporates a plurality of coarse threads 50, which are typical of prior art bottles.

FIG. 5 is a semi-schematic side view of the bottle cap 14 shown with the internal bore 52 in dot-dashed lines.

FIG. 6 is a semi-schematic cross-sectional side view of the bottle assembly 10 of FIG. 1. The interior cavity 54 of the storage bottle 12 is defined by the interior wall surface 56, which in one exemplary embodiment comprises a bowl-shape bottom 58. However, other shaped bottoms may be incorporated without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a semi-schematic bottom view of the bottle assembly 10 of FIG. 6 taken along line F7-F7. In one exemplary embodiment, the transition section 48 between the body section 30 and the base 36 comprises a multi-sided taper section. However, the transition section 48 may embody other shape configurations without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Although limited embodiments of the bottle assemblies and their components have been specifically described and illustrated herein, many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, stained glass or color glass may be used form the storage bottle, color plastics may be used to form the cap, printing or labeling may be placed directly on the body section of the storage bottle, and the storage bottle may be made from a plastic material. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the storage bottle assemblies and their components constructed according to principles of this invention may be embodied other than as specifically described herein. The invention is also defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A storage bottle assembly comprising a cap and a storage bottle, said storage bottle comprising a bottle neck, a body section defining a longitudinal axis, and a base, wherein the body section comprises a wall surface having a generally circular cross section as measured from the longitudinal axis; and wherein the base comprises four edges defining a generally square configuration.

2. The storage bottle assembly of claim 1, wherein the storage bottle is made from glass.

3. The storage bottle assembly of claim 1, wherein the cap is made from a plastic material.

4. The storage bottle assembly of claim 3, wherein the plastic is an ABS material.

5. The storage bottle assembly of claim 1, wherein the storage bottle further comprises a transition section disposed between the body section and the base.

6. The storage bottle assembly of claim 5, wherein the transition section comprises a configuration that is neither circular or square.

7. The storage bottle assembly of claim 1, wherein the storage bottle is made from a plastic material.

8. A storage bottle assembly comprising a cap and a storage bottle, said storage bottle comprising a bottle neck, a body section defining a longitudinal axis, a base, and a transition section disposed therebetween; wherein the body section comprises a wall surface having a generally circular cross section as measured from the longitudinal axis; and wherein the base comprises four edges comprising four right comers.

9. The storage bottle assembly of claim 8, wherein the storage bottle is made from glass.

10. The storage bottle assembly of claim 8, wherein the cap is made from a plastic material.

11. The storage bottle assembly of claim 10, wherein the plastic is an ABS material.

12. The storage bottle assembly of claim 8, wherein the transition section comprises a configuration that is neither circular or square.

13. The storage bottle assembly of claim 8, wherein the storage bottle is made from a plastic material.

14. The storage bottle assembly of claim 8, wherein the cap comprises an upper taper section and a lower taper section.

15. The storage bottle assembly of claim 14, wherein the upper taper section tapers radially inwardly as it extends distally towards a cap opening and wherein the lower taper section tapers radially inwardly as it extends proximally towards a cap top surface.

16. The storage bottle assembly of claim 8, wherein the four edges define a generally square configuration.

17. A method for forming a bottle assembly, said method comprising:

forming a cap comprising internal threads;

forming a storage bottle, said storage bottle comprising a bottle neck, a body section defining a longitudinal axis, and a base, wherein the body section comprises a wall surface having a generally circular cross section as measured from the longitudinal axis; and wherein the base comprises four edges defining a generally square configuration; and

placing the cap over the bottle neck.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the storage bottle is formed from a glass material.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising a transaction section disposed between the body section and the base.

20. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the transition section comprises a configuration that is neither circular or square.