Spray Bottle Carrying Apparatus

Abstract

A spray bottle carrying apparatus comprised of: comprised of: an upper portion having a first end, a second end, a top surface, and a bottom surface; a gripping member positioned on the upper surface and having a plurality of ribs disposed thereon; a first arm and a second arm each having opposed surfaces which face each other to form a recess into which a spray bottle can be temporarily positioned; an aperture which partially exposes the neck of the bottle to facilitate assembly and a lower portion substantially perpendicular to the upper portion and extending downward from the second end of the upper portion to form an integral, one-piece apparatus such that the lower portion can be affixed to an item of clothing.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This invention claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 60/983,617 filed Oct. 30, 2007 for which the anniversary date falls on a Saturday.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of apparatuses for carrying a liquid container, and in particular an apparatus for carrying a spray bottle and that can be secured to a clothing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of the spray bottle carrying apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the embodiment of the spray bottle carrying apparatus shown in FIG. 1, secured to a spray bottle.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the embodiment of the spray bottle carrying apparatus shown in FIG. 1, taken along line 3-3.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the embodiment of the spray bottle carrying apparatus shown in FIG. 1, taken along line 4-4.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the spray bottle carrying apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the embodiment of the spray bottle carrying apparatus shown in FIG. 5, taken along line 6.

BACKGROUND

Spray bottles are commonly used to transport liquids, including water, cleaning solutions, cosmetics, and solvents. It is desirable to have an apparatus which may secure a spray bottle to clothing in order to save time in cleaning and other tasks, and to avoid losing the spray bottle. This is a particularly desirable for liquids which are specially blended, toxic or expensive.

It is also desirable that a device for affixing a spray bottle to clothing be compatible with machinery for assembling spray bottles and caps, in particular that the device be capable of being gripped or manipulated by machinery used for assembling machines

As used herein, the term “spray bottle” refers to any container having a manually-operated pump that can be used to dispense fluids.

As used herein, the term “clothing” refers to pants, belt, sweater, band, string, drawstring or any other item of clothing. For example, clothing may refer to a belt, belt loop, or waist band of pants.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the present invention, references are made in the text hereof to embodiments of a spray bottle carrying apparatus, only some of which are depicted in the figures. It should nevertheless be understood that no limitations on the scope of the invention are thereby intended. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that modifications such as the dimensions, size, and shape of the components, alternate but functionally similar materials from which the golf club monitoring system is made, and the inclusion of additional elements are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the written description do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Some of these possible modifications are mentioned in the following description. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed apparatus or manner.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In addition, in the embodiments depicted herein, like reference numerals in the various drawings refer to identical or near identical structural elements.

Moreover, the term “substantially” or “approximately” as used herein may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. For example, one embodiment of the spray bottle carrying apparatus is disclosed herein as having an upper portion and a lower portion perpendicular to the upper portion. The lower portion might permissibly be somewhat non-perpendicular to the upper portion and still be within the scope of the invention if its functionality is not materially altered.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of one (1) embodiment of spray bottle carrying apparatus 100. Spray bottle carrying apparatus 100 is comprised of upper portion 110, lower portion 120, first arm 131 and second arm 132, which form recess 130, into which the neck of a spray bottle (not shown) can be inserted and temporarily secured, and gripping member 140.

Upper portion 110 of spray bottle carrying apparatus 100 has first end 101, second end 102, top surface 103, and a bottom surface (not visible). Lower portion 120 is integrally molded perpendicular to upper portion 110 at second end 102 to form a one-piece apparatus. In the embodiment shown, lower portion 120 can be temporarily inserted between a belt (not shown) and a pant (not shown) or between a pant and a wearer of the pants to temporarily support the spray bottle without the user having to use their hands.

Extending from first end 101 of upper portion 110 are first arm 131 and second arm 132, which form recess 130. First arm 131 and second arm 132 form a substantially U-shaped recess 130, into which the neck of a spray bottle (not shown) can be inserted and temporarily secured.

Also visible in the embodiment of spray bottle carrying apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 is gripping member 140. Gripping member 140 is positioned on top surface 103 of upper portion 110 of spray bottle carrying apparatus 100 and further includes a plurality of ribs 141. Gripping member 140 and ribs 141 engage the neck of the spray bottle to further secure the spray bottle to spray bottle carrying apparatus 100.

In the embodiment of spray bottle carrying apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1, spray bottle carrying apparatus 100 is made of plastic, but can be made of any sufficiently light weight and durable material that can be formed into spray bottle carrying apparatus 100.

Also visible in FIG. 1 is logo 150. Logo 150 can be disposed on lower portion 120 or any other location on spray bottle carrying apparatus 100, but is not a necessary element. Logo 150 can be any mark related to cleaning supplies or any other graphical representation.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the embodiment of spray bottle carrying apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1, secured to spray bottle 50. As can be appreciated, when spray bottle 50 is free standing, lower portion 120 of spray bottle carrying apparatus 100 extends downward, such that it can engage a user's belt, pocket, pants, or other article of clothing. It can also be appreciated that spray bottle carrying apparatus 100 engages spray bottle 50 at neck 51, on which a plurality of ribs 52 are also present. Ribs 141 of spray bottle carrying apparatus 100 mate with ribs 52 on spray bottle 50.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the embodiment of spray bottle carrying apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1, taken along line 3-3. As can be appreciated, lower portion 120 of spray bottle carrying apparatus 100 extends downward from upper portion 110 at a ninety-degree (90°) angle. However, as provided supra, lower portion 120 of spray bottle carrying apparatus 100 can extend downward from upper portion 110 at an angle other than ninety degrees (90°).

FIG. 4 is a top view of the embodiment of the spray bottle carrying apparatus shown in FIG. 1, taken along line 4-4. As can be seen, first arm 131 and second arm 132 are each arcuately or otherwise shaped to form recess 130, into which the neck of the spray bottle (not shown) can be temporarily positioned. Furthermore, it can also be appreciated that first arm 131 and second arm 132 form a U-shape in which opening 135 is less than one hundred eighty degrees (180°). If opening 135 was greater than one hundred eighty degrees (180°), arms 131, 132 would not secure the spray bottle within recess 130.

Also visible in FIG. 4 are ribs 141 positioned on gripping member. Ribs 141 correspond with the ribs on the neck of the spray bottle (not shown) and prevent the spray bottle from spinning or slipping when held by spray bottle carrying apparatus 100. In the embodiment shown, ribs 141 are integrally molded to gripping member 140, but can also be added to gripping member 140 in other embodiments of spray bottle carrying apparatus 100.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of spray bottle carrying apparatus 200. In this embodiment, spray bottle carrying apparatus 200 includes sprayer 210 and two (2) arms 220, though only one (1) is visible from this perspective. Sprayer includes trigger 211 and nozzle 212 such that when trigger 211 is squeezed, a portion of the contents of spray bottle 50 is emitted through nozzle 212. Arms 220 allow spray bottle 50 to be temporarily secured to a user. For example, in one embodiment, arm 220 can be positioned between a user's pants and belt, allowing spray bottle 50 to be temporarily suspended from the user's clothing for ease of retrieval.

In the embodiment shown, sprayer 210 has arms 220 integrally molded to sprayer 210. Each arm 220 is positioned substantially rearward from nozzle 212 and trigger 211, exposing most of neck 51 of spray bottle 50. This allows spray bottle carrying apparatus 200 to be attached to spray bottle 50 during the capping process during manufacturing and filling of spray bottle 50, as well as easy removal of spray bottle carrying apparatus 200 by the consumer to refill spray bottle 50.

In the embodiment shown, arms 220 are integrally molded to sprayer 210 to form spray bottle carrying apparatus 200. Thus, spray bottle 50 is manufactured with spray bottle carrying apparatus 200. However, in alternate embodiments, spray bottle carrying apparatus 200 could instead be a shroud that can be temporarily secured over an existing sprayer 210. The shroud embodiment of spray bottle carrying apparatus 200 can then be used to temporarily suspend spray bottle 50 from the user's belt, pocket, or other piece of clothing and removed from one spray bottle 50 and used with another spray bottle 50.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the embodiment of spray bottle carrying apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 5, taken along line 6. Although the rearward positioning of arms 220 cannot be appreciated, that there are two (2) arms 220, on either side of spray bottle carrying apparatus 200, can be seen. In addition, space 225 between arms 220 and bottle 50 can be seen. As provided above, arms 220 can be positioned within a pocket, over a belt, or over the top of pants to temporarily support spray bottle 50.

While the spray bottle carrying apparatus has been shown and described with respect to several embodiments and uses in accordance with the present invention, it is to be understood that the same is not limited thereto, but is susceptible to numerous changes and modifications as known to a person of ordinary skill in the art, and it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the details shown and described herein, but rather cover all such changes and modifications obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

1. An integral, one-piece device comprised of:

an upper portion, said upper portion having a first end, a second end, a top surface, and a bottom surface;

a gripping member positioned on said upper surface of said upper portion;

a first arm and a second arm, said first arm and said second arm each having opposed surfaces that face each other, said first arm and said second arm forming an opening therebetween and configured to form a recess adapted for supporting a substantially cylindrical spray bottle; and

a lower portion, said lower portion substantially perpendicular to said upper portion and extending downward from said upper portion at said second end, wherein said lower portion is adapted to be temporarily positioned between a belt and a pant.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is constructed of plastic.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said spray bottle has a circumference ranging from 2 to 6 inches

4. The device of claim 1, wherein gripping member further includes a ribbed, frictional surface.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the opening of said spray bottle is the opening is less than six inches in diameter.

6. A spray bottle belt clip comprised of:

an upper portion, said upper portion having a first end, a second end, a top surface, and a bottom surface;

a gripping member positioned on said upper surface of said upper portion, said gripping member having a plurality of ribs disposed thereon;

a first arm and a second arm, said first arm and said second arm each having opposed surfaces that face each other, said first arm and said second arm forming an opening therebetween and configured to form a recess adapted for supporting a spray bottle having a neck and a trunk; and

a lower portion, said lower portion substantially perpendicular to said upper portion and extending downward from said upper portion at said second end, wherein said lower portion is adapted to be temporarily inserted into a user's clothing.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said device is constructed of plastic.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein said spray bottle has a circumference ranging from 2 to 6 inches

9. The device of claim 6, wherein gripping member further includes a ribbed, frictional surface.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein the opening of said spray bottle is the opening is less than six inches in diameter.

11. An apparatus comprised of:

an upper portion, said upper portion having a first end, a second end, a top surface, and a bottom surface;

a gripping member positioned on said upper surface of said upper portion, said gripping member having a plurality of ribs disposed thereon;

a first arm and a second arm, said first arm and said second arm each having opposed surfaces that face each other, said first arm and said second arm forming an opening therebetween and configured to form a recess adapted for supporting a substantially cylindrical spray bottle, said opening being less than half of a circumference of said recess; and

a lower portion, said lower portion substantially perpendicular to said upper portion and extending downward from said upper portion at said second end, wherein said lower portion is adapted to be temporarily inserted into a user's clothing.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said device is constructed of plastic.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said spray bottle has a circumference ranging from 2 to 6 inches

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein gripping member further includes a ribbed, frictional surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the opening of said spray bottle is the opening is less than six inches in diameter.