BOTTLE SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for containers, including those commonly known as “bottles,” having at least two finger apertures located on a peripheral edge of the body portion; the body portion having at least two shoulder portions, wherein each of the shoulder portions has at least one piercable draw aperture depression; a threaded neck and a cap configured to fit the threaded neck; the cap having a bowl aperture depression for the insertion of a smoking material holder, the smoking material holder comprising a bowl and a stem.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Design Application Serial No. 29/381,136, filed on Dec. 15, 2010, entitled “BOTTLE,” which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of containers and container systems, and more particularly, to the field of liquid container devices, systems, and methods.

BACKGROUND

All types and manner of liquid containers have existed for years. However, such containers have failed to meet all of the expectations of consumers. For example, while some containers have handles integrated thereto (e.g., mugs, etc.), they fail to provide the convenience of having particular, integrated locations for a user's fingers. Similarly, such containers are typically more circular in shape, which is not necessarily the most convenient or comfortable for all contemplated applications.

Moreover, while existing containers are often recyclable or reusable, certain types of “re-use” have been heretofore unavailable. Further still, with generally plain and mundane shapes, many configurations of and uses for existing containers leave little ability to provide unique and energized marketing campaigns.

Therefore, a need exists to develop improved apparatuses, systems, and methods for containers which provide better convenience and comfort, alternative and new primary and secondary uses, and the ability to provide improved marketing functions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with exemplary embodiments, the present invention comprises devices, systems and methods for containers, including those commonly known as “bottles,” having a plurality of apertures located on a peripheral edge of the body portion; the body portion having at least two shoulder portions, wherein each of the shoulder portions has at least one piercable draw aperture depression; a threaded neck and a cap configured to fit the threaded neck; the cap having a bowl aperture depression for the insertion of a smoking material holder, the smoking material holder comprising a bowl and a stem. Bottles according to various embodiments have a width to thickness ratios of about 3:1 to about 5:1, preferably about 4:1.

In various embodiments, the smoking material holder has a piercing end configured to pierce the aperture depressions. Bottles according to various embodiments, further comprise a threaded neck, which may be left-hand or right-hand threads.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a bottle;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the bottle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the bottle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the bottle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a left side view of the bottle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the bottle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the bottle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a bottle;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the bottle of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the bottle of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a right side view of the bottle of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a left side view of the bottle of FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a top view of the bottle of FIG. 8;

FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the bottle of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 15 a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a bottle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Persons skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various aspects of the present invention may be realized by any number of methods and apparatuses configured to perform the intended functions. Stated differently, other methods and apparatuses may be incorporated herein to perform the intended functions. It should also be noted that the accompanying drawing figures referred to herein are not all drawn to scale, but may be exaggerated to illustrate various aspects of the present invention, and in that regard, the drawing figures should not be construed as limiting. Finally, although the present invention may be described in connection with various principles and beliefs, the present invention should not be bound by theory.

In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, an improved container is provided. In general, the container comprises any device capable of holding a liquid, such as for example, a bottle. In this regard, as used herein, it should be understood that “bottle” refers to a container in accordance with the present invention and should not be construed as limited to a specific configuration or type of container. The bottle may formed from any suitable material, including for example, various plastics and polymers, glass, metals and other materials.

In various embodiments and with reference to FIGS. 1-8, a container or bottle 100 in accordance with the present invention comprises a body portion 102 which generally holds the majority of the liquid contained therein. Attached to or otherwise integrally connected to body portion 102 are a plurality of finger apertures 104 located on a peripheral edge of said body portion 102. In an embodiment, four finger apertures 104 are provided, though the actual number may vary and still fall within the scope of the present invention.

In various embodiments, bottle 100 and/or body portion 102 have a width (W) to thickness (T) ratio of about 3:1 to about 5:1, and preferably about 4:1. Such width to depth ratios thus may provide increased convenience and comfort for grasping bottle 100, particularly when bottle 100 is grasped by the users and the users fingers extend through apertures 104.

In various embodiments, bottle 100 may further comprise a cap 108 configured to attach to bottle 100 by various means. For example, cap 108 may attach to bottle 100 via threads, snap on, a stopper/cork configuration or the like. In one embodiment, threads on bottle 100 and cap 108 have left-hand threads, though right-hand threads also fall within the scope of the present invention. Preferably, cap 108 attaches in a manner which hermetically seals bottle 100.

In various embodiments, cap 108 may configured in a decorative or distinctive manner, such as by including a character or ornamental design. For example, with continued reference to FIGS. 1-8, cap 108 may comprise a skull and crossbones design, though other designs may similarly be used and still fall within the scope of the present invention.

With reference now to FIGS. 9-15, in accordance with various embodiments, bottle 100 may be configured to have a use as a smoking apparatus. In such embodiments, a primary purpose of bottle 100 may be as a liquid container, with a secondary purpose as a smoking apparatus, or alternatively, bottle 100 may have a primary purpose as a smoking apparatus, with liquid containment being a secondary purpose (if a purpose at all). In this regard, an embodiment of bottle 100 comprises at least one shoulder portion 110 proximate the upper portion of bottle 100. In various embodiments bottle 100 comprises two or more shoulder portions 110 on opposing sides of bottle 100.

In the illustrated embodiment, shoulder portion 110 further comprises an aperture 112. In embodiments having more than one shoulder portion 110, each shoulder portion 110 may have its own aperture 112. For example, in a preferred embodiment of bottle 100 and with specific reference to FIG. 13, bottle 100 comprises two shoulder portions 110, each having an aperture 112, namely a draw aperture 112a and a carburetor aperture 112b. Preferably apertures 112a,b are maintained as closed prior to a desired time for using bottle 100 as a smoking apparatus. As such, in a sealed condition, bottle 100 remains in a condition suitable for containing a liquid without risk of leaking or spilling.

For example, in embodiments of bottle 100 manufactured from plastic or plastic-like materials, apertures 112a,b may be formed as an area configured to be pierced or punched to provide access to the interior of bottle 100. Such areas may be referred to herein as an “aperture depression,” and may be thinner, scored, or otherwise configured to facilitate the piercing or punching. The piercing or punching of aperture depressions may be accomplished by using any suitable tool, including smoking material holders such as those described herein.

Cap 108 may further comprise a bowl aperture 114. Like apertures 112a,b, bowl aperture 114 is preferably maintained as closed prior to a desired time for using bottle 100 as a smoking apparatus, and like apertures 112a,b, may be configured as an aperture depression configured to be pierced or punched to provide access to the interior of bottle 100. Again, bowl aperture 114 may be thinner, scored, or otherwise configured to facilitate the piercing or punching piercing or punching, and the same may be accomplished by using any suitable tool, including smoking material holders such as those described herein.

As briefly mentioned above, various embodiments of bottle 100 may further comprise a smoking material holder 116 configured to attach to bottle 100 and to hold products which are capable of being smoked (e.g., tobacco, herbs, etc.) so that bottle 100 may be used as a smoking apparatus (e.g., a pipe).

In an exemplary embodiment and with specific reference to FIG. 15, smoking material holder 116 comprises a bowl 118 and a stem 120. Stem 120 is preferably hollow or otherwise configured to allow the passage of air and smoke therethough, and communicates with bowl 118 so that air and smoke may be drawn through bowl 118, through stem 120 and into bottle 100. Subsequently, the smoke may be drawn from bottle 100 through aperture 112a and inhaled by the user.

In general, smoking material holder 116 comprises any material having the appropriate characteristics for piercing or punching apertures 112,114 and further capable of containing a smoldering ember of material being smoked. For example, in preferred embodiments, smoking material holder is comprised of materials such as metal, ceramic or glass. In various embodiments, stem 120 has a distal end 122 which is suitably sharpened to facilitate the piercing of apertures 112,114.

In various of embodiments of bottle 100, smoking material holder 116, via bowl 118 and stem 120, is in communication with said cap 108 so as to allow air to be drawn by a user inhaling on draw aperture 112a while covering carburetor aperture 112b, for example with a finger tip of a finger proximate finger apertures 104. For example, while user draws air through aperture 112a, a partial vacuum is created in bottle 100 which causes air to be drawn through bowl 118 and smoking material therein, through stem 120 and into the interior portion of bottle 100. In various embodiments, bottle 100 may contain an amount of liquid (e.g., water) therein, preferably in an amount sufficient to submerge at least a portion of stem 120, to help provide cooling of the smoke drawn into bottle 100, which in turn may provide a cleaner and/or smoother smoke prior to being inhaled by a user.

In various embodiments, smoking material holder 116 may be a tool separate from bottle 100, or may be integral in some form and/or purchased with bottle 100. For example, in some embodiments, cap 108 may be configured to also comprise the components of smoking material holder 116 (e.g., bowl 118, stem 120, etc.) described herein. In such embodiments, bottle 100 and smoking material holder 116 are part of a complete bottle system, comprising a body portion having at least two shoulder portions, wherein each of the shoulder portions further comprises at least one piercable draw aperture depression. The bottle system may further comprise four finger apertures located on a peripheral edge of said body portion, a threaded neck and a cap configured to fit the threaded neck. The cap itself may further comprise a bowl aperture depression having a smoking material holder, and further comprise a bowl and a stem. In such systems, the stem has a piercing end configured to pierce any of the draw aperture depressions and the bowl aperture depression. In this regard, the bottle system allows the stem to pass through the cap after the piercing end of said stem pierces the bowl aperture depression.

Thus, containers in accordance with the present invention provide improved handles integrated therewith having particular and specific locations for a user's fingers, thus offering increased convenience and comfort to the user. Moreover, containers in accordance with the present invention provide more ergonomic width to length ratios, which also may provide increased convenience and comfort to the user.

Further still, in some embodiments of the present invention, the containers are recyclable or reusable, for example, some of such containers may be used as a smoking apparatus. Further yet, containers in accordance with the present invention have unique and interesting shapes and configurations which allow unique and energized marketing campaigns.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A container, comprising a body portion having a plurality of finger apertures integral with a peripheral edge of said body portion.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein said body portion has width to depth ratio of about 4:1.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein said plurality of apertures comprises four apertures.

4. The container of claim 1, further comprising at least one shoulder portion, said at least one shoulder portion having at least one piercable draw aperture depression.

5. The container of claim 1, further comprising at least two shoulder portions, wherein two of each of said at least two shoulder portions have piercable draw aperture depressions.

6. The container of claim 1, further comprising at least one shoulder portion, said at least one shoulder portion having at least one draw aperture.

7. The container of claim 1, further comprising at least two shoulder portions, wherein two of each of said at least two shoulder portions has a draw aperture.

8. The container of claim 1, further comprising a cap, said cap having a bowl aperture depression.

9. The container of claim 1, further comprising a cap, said cap having a bowl aperture.

10. The container of claim 1, further comprising a smoking material holder, said smoking material holder comprising a bowl and a stem.

11. The container of claim 1, further comprising a stem and a cap, wherein said stem is in communication with said cap.

12. The container of claim 11, wherein said stem has a piercing end.

13. The container of claim 12, wherein said piercing end is configured to pierce at least one of a draw aperture depression and a bowl aperture depression.

14. The container of claim 1, further comprising a threaded neck.

15. The container of claim 14, wherein said threaded neck comprises left-hand threads.

16. A bottle system, comprising a body portion having at least two shoulder portions, wherein each of said shoulder portions further comprises at least one piercable draw aperture depression;

four finger apertures located on a peripheral edge of said body portion;

a threaded neck;

a cap configured to fit said threaded neck, said cap further comprising a bowl aperture depression; and

a smoking material holder, said smoking material holder comprising a bowl and a stem,

17. The bottle system of claim 16, wherein said stem has a piercing end configured to pierce any of said draw aperture depression and said howl aperture depression.

18. The bottle system of claim 17, wherein said stem passes through said cap after said piercing end of said stem pierces said bowl aperture depression.

19. The bottle system of claim 16, wherein said body portion has a width to depth ratio of about 4:1.

20. The bottle system of claim 16, wherein said threaded neck comprises left-hand threads.