HANDLED BOTTLE

Abstract

Described is an improved pouring bottle having an ergonomic enclosed handle with a thumb pad and an alignment nub that allows accurate venting through the vented enclosed handle when pouring through the dispensing opening. The vented handle may be separated from the bottle container interior at the neck by a solid web and fluidly connected to the bottle container interior on the bottle side surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/786,224, filed May 24, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to an ergonomic handled bottle having a handle inlet in the bottle opening.

2. Description of the Related Art

A typical bottle with an integral handle and method of making is described in U.S. 2005/0163952 to Beale and U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,598 to Thompson. Where the handle is vented from handle top at the bottle opening to the handle bottom at the container interior, the handle venting may not work properly if the handle is not tipped at the proper angle or is tipped to quickly.

To overcome this problem it is important to be able to use the handle venting properly during pouring by controlling where the handle is gripped and having a controlled ergonomic grip to the handle. Accordingly, what is needed is a bottle with an enclosed, vented handle having an ergonomic grip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, in one embodiment, is a bottle comprising a container having a body portion for holding container content in a container interior, the container having a container top front side with a dispensing opening, a container top rear side with a handle having a handle exterior surface and a handle interior surface and a handle top end and a handle bottom end, wherein the handle exterior surface comprises an enclosed handle exterior surface and an extended handle exterior surface, a container having a front side surface and a rear side surface forming a container body, and a container lower closed bottom end for supporting the container, the dispensing opening comprising a neck fluidly connected to both the container interior and the handle interior at the handle top end, wherein the handle has a thumb pad on the extended handle exterior surface and a forefinger alignment nub on the enclosed handle exterior surface.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a bottle comprises a container having a body portion for holding container content in a container interior, the container having a container top front side with a dispensing opening, a container top rear side with a handle having a handle exterior surface and a handle interior surface and a handle top end and a handle bottom end, wherein the handle exterior surface comprises an enclosed handle exterior surface and an extended handle exterior surface, a container having a front side surface and a rear side surface forming a container body, and a container lower closed bottom end for supporting the container, the dispensing opening comprising a neck fluidly connected to both the container interior and the handle interior at the handle top end, wherein a solid web separates the handle top end from the container front side where the handle top end and the container front side connected with the neck and the handle bottom end is fluidly connected to the container body portion about half way up the container rear side, wherein the handle has a concave thumb pad on the extended handle exterior surface and a convex forefinger alignment nub on the enclosed handle exterior surface.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a bottle comprises a container having a body portion for holding container content in a container interior, the container having a container top front side with a dispensing opening, a container top rear side with a handle having a handle exterior surface and a handle interior surface and a handle top end and a handle bottom end, wherein the handle exterior surface comprises an enclosed handle exterior surface and an extended handle exterior surface, a container having a front side surface and a rear side surface forming a container body, and a container lower closed bottom end for supporting the container, the dispensing opening comprising a neck fluidly connected to both the container interior and the handle interior at the handle top end, wherein the handle has a concave thumb pad on the extended handle exterior surface and a convex forefinger alignment nub on the enclosed handle exterior surface.

The use of the bottle of the present invention, from a consumer perspective, would not differ from the use of any conventional dispensing bottle known in the art. The user would simply open the dispensing closure to dispense fluid from the bottle.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of embodiments below, when considered together with the attached drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and others will be readily appreciated by the skilled artisan from the following description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a side plan view of a bottle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side plan view of a container in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of a bottle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. For ease of description, the components of this invention are described in the normal (upright) operating position, and terms such as upper, lower, horizontal, top, bottom, etc., are used with reference to this position. It will be understood, however, that the components embodying this invention may be manufactured, stored, transported, used, and sold in an orientation other than the position described.

Figures illustrating the components of this invention show some conventional mechanical elements that are known and that will be recognized by one skilled in the art. The detailed descriptions of such elements are not necessary to an understanding of the invention, and accordingly, are herein presented only to the degree necessary to facilitate an understanding of the novel features of the present invention.

All publications, patents and patent applications cited herein, whether supra or infra, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

As used herein and in the claims, the term “comprising” is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional unrecited elements, compositional components, or method steps. Accordingly, the term “comprising” encompasses the more restrictive terms “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of”.

It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a “surfactant” includes two or more such surfactants.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although a number of methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice of the present invention, the preferred materials and methods are described herein.

The term “bottle”, as used herein, is meant to mean and include any plastic container and closure for holding a fluid.

In a suitable embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the bottle 100 comprises a container 102 having a body portion 104 for holding container content in the container interior 107, with a container front side surface 103 having container top front side 106 adjacent to the dispensing opening 108 and a container rear side surface 105 having a container top rear side 110 adjacent to the handle 112, and a lower closed bottom end 114 for supporting the container 102. The container has an upper end including a neck 116 delimiting a dispensing opening 108. A dispensing closure 120 of the present invention, having a base member 122, a cap 124, and a connecting hinge 118 may be securely mounted onto said container 102 via its base member 122, using any means of attachment commonly know to those skilled in the art including cooperative threads, crimping, clipping means, heat sealing, force fitting, clasp elements, snap-fit bead, groove arrangements, and mixtures thereof. The container 102 can have an enclosed handle 112 with an extended handle exterior surface 126 and an enclosed extended handle interior surface 128. The bottle has a concave thumb pad 130 on the extended handle exterior surface 126 and a convex forefinger alignment nub 132 on the enclosed handle interior surface 128. These handle easy-grip features are suitable for a forward directed pouring spout which is tipped during pouring to a lesser extent than is required for a more central directed pouring spout on the top of a bottle. A solid web 134 separates the handle top end 136 from the container front side 106 where the handle top end 136 and the container front side 106 both enter the neck 116. The handle bottom end 135 is fluidly connected to the container body portion 104 about half way up the container rear side surface 105. The handle interior 109 of the handle top end 136 is fluidly connected to the dispensing opening 108 at the neck 116. The handle interior 109 is fluidly connected to container interior 107 at the handle bottom end 135. The handle diameter 113 above the concave thumb pad 130 is the same as the handle diameter 115 below the convex forefinger alignment nub 132. This combination of thumb pad, alignment nub and equal diameter provides the smooth flow when pouring with the separated vented handle.

Below the handle 112 is an indented label wall 138. The container my be either an elongated circle or round. The container may have a spout fitment, as in FIG. 4, or it may lack a spout fitment as in FIG. 2. The elongated container, the extended handle having a thumb pad and a forefinger alignment nub, the separate handle opening to the neck, the forward neck, or combinations of these allow for effective directed pouring out of the front of the bottle.

Suitably, the dispensing closure 120 of the invention is provided with an inner female thread (not shown) typically located in the base member 122, and the container neck 116 is provided with an exterior male thread 150 formed adjacent its dispensing opening 118. The dispensing closure 120 of the present invention is suitable for use with a variety of conventional or special containers having various designs, the details of which, although not illustrated or described, would be apparent to those skilled in the art. The container 102 may have a rigid wall or walls, or may have a somewhat flexible wall or walls.

In a suitable aspect of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dispensing closure 120 is a separate element which is adapted to be removably or non-removably mounted, via its base member 122, to a previously manufactured container 102 which has a dispensing opening 108 to the container interior. In an alternative execution, the dispensing closure may be formed as a unitary part, or extension, of the container. The dispensing closure 120 is adapted to be used with a container 102 having a dispensing opening 108 to provide access to the container interior volume and to a product contained therein, which is preferably a pourable product. However, the dispensing closure 120 of the invention may be used with many products, including but not limited to, relatively low or high viscosity liquids, creams, gels, suspensions, mixtures, lotions, pastes, particulates, granular products, and mixtures thereof. Typical products for use in the present invention may be those constituting a food product, a personal care product, an industrial or household cleaning product, or other compositions of matter for use in activities involving manufacturing, commercial or household maintenance, construction, agriculture. Suitably, said pourable product is a liquid composition.

The container neck 116 may be a simple threaded closure or may have in addition to the male thread 150, several functional elements to prevent removal of the base member 122 of the dispensing closure 120.

The bottle may have an integrated spout fitment such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,803 to Sprick, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. In another embodiment in FIG. 4, the bottle 200 comprises a dispensing container 202 having an enclosed handle 204 in the container rear section 203 and a neck 206 in the container front section 205 with a spout fitment 208 inserted into the cylindrical neck 206. In this way, the consumer picks up the container at the handle in the rear section and pours from the spout in the front section of the container. The bottle 200 also has a cap closure 210 which acts to close the pouring spout.

This invention has been described herein in detail to provide those skilled in the art with information relevant to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by different equipment, materials and devices, and that various modifications, both as to the equipment and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.

Claims

1. A bottle comprising:

a container having a body portion for holding container content in a container interior, the container having a container top front side with a dispensing opening, a container top rear side with a handle having a handle exterior surface and a handle interior surface and a handle top end and a handle bottom end, wherein the handle exterior surface comprises an enclosed handle exterior surface and an extended handle exterior surface, a container having a front side surface and a rear side surface forming a container body, and a container lower closed bottom end for supporting the container, the dispensing opening comprising a neck fluidly connected to both the container interior and the handle interior at the handle top end, wherein the handle has a thumb pad on the extended handle exterior surface and a forefinger alignment nub on the enclosed handle exterior surface.

2. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the thumb pad is concave compared to the extended handle exterior surface.

3. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the forefinger alignment nub is convex compared to the enclosed handle exterior surface.

4. The bottle of claim 1, wherein a solid web separates the handle top end from the container front side where the handle top end and the container front side connected with the neck.

5. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the handle bottom end is fluidly connected to the container body portion about half way up the container rear side.

6. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the bottle additionally comprises a dispensing closure, the dispensing closure comprising an attachment means to connect to the container neck, where the attachment means is selected from the group consisting of a threaded closure, crimping, clipping means, heat sealing, force fitting, clasp elements, snap-fit bead, groove arrangements, and combinations thereof.

7. The bottle of claim 6, wherein the dispensing closure comprises a threaded closure.

8. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the container neck comprises a spout fitment.

9. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the container neck lacks a spout fitment.

10. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the container has an indented label wall below the handle.

11. A bottle comprising:

a container having a body portion for holding container content in a container interior, the container having a container top front side with a dispensing opening, a container top rear side with a handle having a handle exterior surface and a handle interior surface and a handle top end and a handle bottom end, wherein the handle exterior surface comprises an enclosed handle exterior surface and an extended handle exterior surface, a container having a front side surface and a rear side surface forming a container body, and a container lower closed bottom end for supporting the container, the dispensing opening comprising a neck fluidly connected to both the container interior and the handle interior at the handle top end, wherein a solid web separates the handle top end from the container front side where the handle top end and the container front side connected with the neck and the handle bottom end is fluidly connected to the container body portion about half way up the container rear side, wherein the handle has a concave thumb pad on the extended handle exterior surface and a convex forefinger alignment nub on the enclosed handle exterior surface and the handle diameter above the concave thumb pad is the same as the handle diameter below the convex forefinger alignment nub.

12. The bottle of claim 11, wherein the container neck comprises a spout fitment.

13. The bottle of claim 11, wherein the container neck lacks a spout fitment.

14. The bottle of claim 11, wherein the container has an indented label wall below the handle.

15. A bottle comprising:

a container having a body portion for holding container content in a container interior, the container having a container top front side with a dispensing opening, a container top rear side with a handle having a handle exterior surface and a handle interior surface and a handle top end and a handle bottom end, wherein the handle exterior surface comprises an enclosed handle exterior surface and an extended handle exterior surface, a container having a front side surface and a rear side surface forming a container body, and a container lower closed bottom end for supporting the container, the dispensing opening comprising a neck fluidly connected to both the container interior and the handle interior at the handle top end, wherein the handle has a concave thumb pad on the extended handle exterior surface and a convex forefinger alignment nub on the enclosed handle exterior surface.

16. The bottle of claim 15, wherein a solid web separates the handle top end from the container front side where the handle top end and the container front side connected with the neck.

17. The bottle of claim 15, wherein the handle bottom end is fluidly connected to the container body portion about half way up the container rear side.

18. The bottle of claim 15, wherein the container neck comprises a spout fitment.

19. The bottle of claim 15, wherein the container neck lacks a spout fitment.

20. The bottle of claim 15, wherein the container has an indented label wall below the handle.