BOTTLE TOP WITH ORIENTATION INDICATOR AND METHOD FOR USE
An applicator bottle and method for use is provided which allows orientation of the applicator tip when the applicator tip is in the bottle. Indicators on the top of the applicator indicate the orientation of the applicator tip, where the applicator tip is wider than it is long. This allows better control of fluid application with the applicator.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/300,186 filed Jun. 9, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/763,237 filed Feb. 8, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a container used to store fluids.
BACKGROUNDThere are several different kinds of bottles used to store fluids. Some bottles come with an applicator brush, sponge or other applicator to apply the fluid. For example nail polish bottles, makeup bottles, paint bottles etc. If the bottle is a screw-top bottle, and the applicator is used more than once in a session, it can be difficult to use all of the fluid because the applicator may not reach the bottom of the bottle. For example, when using nail polish, the bottle is generally shaken and then opened by unscrewing the top. The most common design includes a brush applicator attached to the inside of the top. Once the top is unscrewed, the brush no longer reaches the bottom of the bottle. Usually polish is applied to multiple fingers before the top is screwed back on which means that the brush applicator must be repeatedly dipped back into the fluid in the bottle without screwing the cap back on. The result is that during application, the applicator cannot reach the fluid in the bottom portion of the bottle. A significant volume of fluid may be wasted as a result.
SUMMARYThe present invention provides a solution which overcomes the shortcomings of prior devices and methods. The present invention is a bottle design which allows significantly less fluid to be wasted in an applicator bottle. The design allows for a reservoir or indentation for the applicator while the top of the bottle is screwed on. The reservoir is small enough that less fluid is wasted. In other words, when the bottle is unscrewed, or in use, the applicator can reach the majority of the fluid in the bottle so that the fluid is not wasted.
The attachment mechanism may also be a press fit, a snap fit, or another attachment mechanism. The reservoir or indentation at the bottom of the bottle may be of any suitable shape.
In a preferred embodiment, bottle 26 is made of glass or another clear material, applicator tip 23 is a brush, and fluid 24 is fingernail polish. The fingernail polish may be colored so that the indentation fills with the colored polish and is visible to the user. When the bottle is closed, the applicator tip is near the bottom of indentation 25. When the bottle is open, and the threads 21 in handle 20 are in the open position, but just touching each other (as would be the case when somebody is applying fingernail polish from the bottle after it is open), the applicator tip is near the top of the indentation. Note that a user will repeatedly place the applicator back into the bottle to get more polish on the applicator for the next fingernail. The user does not want to screw the handle on each time so will just put the applicator in as far as it will go, as is illustrated in
For example, if the cross sectional shape of the bottom portion of the bottle or the reservoir is an ellipse, the cross sectional area would be calculated using the formula:
Area=π×R1×R2
or
Area=π×R3×R4
where R1 and R2, or R3 and R4, represent the short and long radii of the ellipse (see
Area=π×R2
where R is the radius of the circle.
In another example, the cross sectional shape of the bottom of the bottle or the reservoir may be a rectangle or square. In this embodiment, the cross sectional area would be calculated using the formula:
Area=L1×L2
or
Area=L3×L4
where L1 and L2, or L3 and L4, represent the short and long sides of a rectangle (see
Area=L2
It is clear that any shape could be used for both the bottle and the reservoir. The examples in
For example, if the inside cross sectional shape of the body portion is an ellipse, the cross sectional area would be calculated using the formula:
Area=2T×R5×R6
where R5 and R6 represent the short and long radii of the ellipse (see
Area=π×R2
where R is the radius of the circle.
In another example, the inside cross sectional shape of the body of the bottle may be a rectangle or square. In this embodiment, the cross sectional area would be calculated using the formula:
Area=L5×L6
where L5 and L6 represent the short and long sides of a rectangle (see
Area=L2
It is clear that any shape could be used for both the body of the bottle. The examples in
Note also in the figures that the wall thickness of the body of the bottle is substantially thinner than the wall thickness of the bottom portion of the bottle (where the reservoir resides). In one embodiment the ratio of the wall thickness of the body of the bottle to the wall thickness of the bottom portion of the bottle is 0.5 or less. In another embodiment the ratio of the wall thickness of the body of the bottle to the wall thickness of the bottom portion of the bottle is 0.4 or less. In another embodiment the ratio of the wall thickness of the body of the bottle to the wall thickness of the bottom portion of the bottle is 0.3 or less. In another embodiment the ratio of the wall thickness of the body of the bottle to the wall thickness of the bottom portion of the bottle is 0.2 or less. In another embodiment the ratio of the wall thickness of the body of the bottle to the wall thickness of the bottom portion of the bottle is 0.1 or less. In another embodiment the ratio of the wall thickness of the body of the bottle to the wall thickness of the bottom portion of the bottle is 0.05 or less.
In one embodiment the ratio of the average wall thickness of the body of the bottle to the average wall thickness of the bottom portion of the bottle is 0.5 or less. In another embodiment the ratio of the average wall thickness of the body of the bottle to the average wall thickness of the bottom portion of the bottle is 0.4 or less. In another embodiment the ratio of the average wall thickness of the body of the bottle to the average wall thickness of the bottom portion of the bottle is 0.3 or less. In another embodiment the ratio of the average wall thickness of the body of the bottle to the average wall thickness of the bottom portion of the bottle is 0.2 or less. In another embodiment the ratio of the average wall thickness of the body of the bottle to the average wall thickness of the bottom portion of the bottle is 0.1 or less. In another embodiment the ratio of the average wall thickness of the body of the bottle to the average wall thickness of the bottom portion of the bottle is 0.05 or less.
In terms of materials, the bottle may be made out of either a clear or opaque or semi-opaque material. It may be glass, polymer, metal or other suitable materials. The handle and shaft are most likely made out of polymer, but may also be made out of other suitable materials. The applicator tip may be a brush, sponge, spiral brush, plastic, hollow tube, as in a pump, or other configurations. The applicator tip may be made out of polymer or other suitable materials. The fluid inside the bottle may be nail polish, liqueur, lotion, mascara, makeup, cosmetics, wax, or other fluids and may be colored, opaque, semi-opaque or clear. The bottle top may attach to the bottle via mechanisms other than threads, such as a press fit, a snap fit, etc.
It is evident from the examples presented above that the invention is not limited to the examples mentioned in this text but can be implemented in many other different embodiments within the scope of the inventive idea.
Claims
1. An applicator bottle comprising:
- a bottle with a bottom portion and a top portion where the top portion has an opening incorporated therein;
- an applicator with an applicator tip attached thereto;
- a top with a bottle attachment mechanism incorporated therewithin;
- where the top is attached to the applicator;
- where the applicator bottle has a closed state where the top is sealably attached with the bottle attachment mechanism to the opening in the top portion of the bottle and the applicator is inside the bottle;
- where the applicator tip is wider than it is long;
- where the top includes an indicator which indicates an orientation of the applicator tip;
- wherein the orientation of the applicator tip is evident when the bottle is in the closed state.
2. The applicator bottle of claim 1 where the bottle attachment mechanism comprises threads.
3. The applicator bottle of claim 1 where the applicator tip is a brush.
4. The applicator bottle of claim 1 where the indicator is a shape of the top.
5. The applicator bottle of claim 1 where the indicator is tactile.
6. The applicator bottle of claim 1 where the indicator is visible.
7. The applicator bottle of claim 1 where fluid is inside the bottle.
8. The applicator bottle of claim 6 where the fluid is opaque or semi-opaque.
9. A method of using an applicator and a bottle to control application of fluid comprising:
- providing the bottle with a bottom portion and a top portion where the top portion has an opening incorporated therein;
- providing the applicator with an applicator tip attached thereto;
- providing a top with a bottle attachment mechanism incorporated therewithin;
- where the top is attached to the applicator;
- where the applicator bottle has a closed state where the top is sealably attached with the bottle attachment mechanism to the opening in the top portion of the bottle and the applicator is inside the bottle;
- where the applicator tip is wider than it is long;
- where the top includes one or more indicators which indicates an orientation of the applicator tip;
- using the one or more indicators to orient the applicator for use.
10. The method of claim 9 where the bottle attachment mechanism comprises threads.
11. The method of claim 9 where the applicator tip is a brush.
12. The method of claim 9 where the indicator is a shape of the top.
13. The method of claim 9 where the indicator is tactile.
14. The method of claim 9 where the indicator is visible.
15. The method of claim 8 where fluid is inside the bottle.
16. The method of claim 8 where the fluid is opaque or semi-opaque.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 26, 2015
Publication Date: Mar 17, 2016
Applicant: Smart Assets, Inc. (San Francisco, CA)
Inventor: Michelle Arney (San Francisco, CA)
Application Number: 14/953,010