BOTTLE

Abstract

A bottle comprising a hollow body, a bottom, a front wall, a back wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, a tubular spout and a tapered section. The back wall of the bottle is substantially parallel the front wall. The right side wall of the bottle is substantially parallel the left side wall, curved inwards towards the hollow body and shorter in height than the left side wall. In the bottle the tubular spout is centrally orientated between the front wall and back wall of the bottle, the centerline of the tubular spout being offset from the right side wall toward the left side wall and sized to fit a 38 mm screw bottle cap. The tapered section of the bottle is interposed between and connecting the hollow body and the tubular spout, whereby the front wall, back wall, left side wall and right side wall connect and merge into the tubular spout and the front wall, back wall, left side wall and right side wall connect and merge into the bottom.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a novel bottle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to bottles for packaging, storing, transporting and distributing various liquids. More particularly, the present invention relates to rectangular bottles constructed of plastic and the like for containing motor oils and other related fluids.

Fluids such as motor oils are typically transported in plastic motor oil bottles that come in a wide variety of shapes and forms including, but not limited to, cylindrical and rectangular bottles with centrally oriented spouts and cylindrical and rectangular bottles with offset spouts. Generally the bottles are also provided with screw cap or other closure means for sealing and resealing the bottles once opened.

The plastic rectangular motor oil bottles presently in use, however, suffer from many shortcomings. First and foremost, the great majority of rectangular bottles, particularly the one quart capacity bottles, cannot be efficiently stacked and shipped due to poor stack-ability and top-load strength. Increased top load strength has the advantage of increasing the number of bottles placed on a pallet.

Other disadvantages of many of the rectangular motor oil bottles currently in use include pouring difficulties such as premature spillage from content surge, “glug” from poor venting.

There exists a need for a new bottle that can prevent glug from poor venting and increased top-load capability.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A bottle comprising a hollow body, a bottom, a front wall, a back wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, a tubular spout and a tapered section. The back wall of the bottle is substantially parallel the front wall. The right side wall of the bottle is substantially parallel the left side wall, curved inwards towards the hollow body and shorter in height than the left side wall. In the bottle the tubular spout is centrally orientated between the front wall and back wall of the bottle, the centerline of the tubular spout being offset from the right side wall toward the left side wall and sized to fit a 38 mm screw bottle cap. The tapered section of the bottle is interposed between and connecting the hollow body and the tubular spout, whereby the front wall, back wall, left side wall and right side wall connect and merge into the tubular spout and the front wall, back wall, left side wall and right side wall connect and merge into the bottom

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention and benefits thereof may be acquired by referring to the follow description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a front view of the bottle.

FIG. 2 depicts a back view of the bottle.

FIG. 3 depicts a front view of the bottle with a screw bottle cap.

FIG. 4 depicts a back view of the bottle with a screw bottle cap.

FIG. 5 depicts a right side wall view of the bottle.

FIG. 6 depicts a left side wall view of the bottle.

FIG. 7 depicts a top view of the bottle.

FIG. 8 depicts a bottom view of the bottle.

FIG. 9 depicts an optional right side wall view of the bottle.

FIG. 10 depicts a graph comparing load versus displacement of a fixed platen, unconstrained bottle.

FIG. 11 depicts a graph comparing load versus displacement of a fixed platen, constrained bottle.

FIG. 12 depicts a graph comparing load versus displacement of an articulating platen, unconstrained bottle.

FIG. 13 depicts a graph comparing load versus displacement of an articulating platen, constrained bottle.

FIG. 14 depicts thickness distribution mapping of the bottle

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to the detailed description of the preferred arrangement or arrangements of the present invention, it should be understood that the inventive features and concepts may be manifested in other arrangements and that the scope of the invention is not limited to the embodiments described or illustrated. The scope of the invention is intended only to be limited by the scope of the claims that follow.

Throughout the detailed description, an embodiment of the bottle used to hold about 32 fl. oz. or one quart of motor oil is used to describe the invention. This novel bottle is not limited to this particular size. In other embodiments the bottle could be any conventionally used bottle size such as: 8 fl oz, 32 fl oz, 48 fl oz, 128 fl oz, or even 640 fl oz.

As shown in FIG. 1, a front view of the bottle is shown. This novel bottle 10 comprises a hollow body 12, a bottom 14, a front wall 16, a back wall 18 (not shown), a left side wall 20, a right side wall 22, a tubular spout 24 and a tapered section 26.

An alternate view of the bottle in FIG. 2 depicts a back view of the bottle. In this view the novel bottle 10 comprises a hollow body 12, a bottom 14, a front wall 16 (not shown), a back wall 18, a left side wall 20, a right side wall 22, a tubular spout 24 and a tapered section 26.

As shown in both FIGS. 1 and 2, the right side wall 22 is substantially parallel the left side wall 20. Additionally, the right side wall 22 is curved inwards towards the hollow body 12 and is shorter in height than the left side wall 20. The height of the right side wall 22 extends from line H to line E while the height of the left side wall 20 extends from line H to line D.

The tubular spout 24 is centrally oriented between the front wall 16 and the back wall 18. The centerline of the tubular spout 24 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as line A is offset from the right side wall 22 towards the left side wall 20. The tubular spout 24 is also sized to fit a 38 mm screw bottle cap 28. FIG. 3 a front view of the bottle 10 with a screw bottle cap 28 is shown and in FIG. 4 a back view of the bottle 10 with a screw bottle cap 28 is shown.

The height of the tubular spout 24 extends from the top of line B down to line D. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 when a screw bottle cap 28 is placed on the tubular spout 24 exposed tubular spout 24 is shown from line C to line D. The size of the screw bottle cap 28 is 38 mm. This minimal exposed tubular spout is theorized to assist the novel bottle in achieving superior top load capability over previous bottles.

When measured, the length of the tubular spout can be less than 1.25 times the total height of the screw bottle cap. To achieve this low profile tubular spout alternate embodiments of the bottle can have the length of the tubular spout be less than 1.2, 1.15, 1.10, even 1.05 times the total height of the screw bottle cap.

The tapered section 26 of the bottle 10 is interposed between and connecting the hollow boy 12 and the tubular spout 24. The height of the tubular spout 26 extends between lines E and D as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front wall 16, back wall 18, left side wall 20 and right side wall 22 connect and merge into the tubular spout 24 and the front wall 16, back wall 18, left side wall 20 and right side wall 22 connect and merge into the bottom 14.

An optional front placard area 28 is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1 the optional front placard area 28 extends horizontally from the edge of the bottle 10 intersecting the front wall 16 and left side wall 20 to the edge of the bottle 10 intersection the front wall 16 and the right side wall 22. Vertically the optional front placard area 28 extends from a linear horizontal depression 30, as also shown by line G, above the bottom 14 which is substantially parallel the bottom 14 to an angled linear horizontal depression 32 above the linear horizontal depression 30 and below the tapered section 26. The angled linear horizontal depression 32 is angled upwards from the right side wall edge 22 to the left side wall edge 20. As shown in FIG. 1 the uppermost height of the optional front placard area 28 extends from line F to line E.

An optional back placard area 29 is shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2 the optional back placard area 29 extends horizontally from the edge of the bottle 10 intersecting the front wall 16 and left side wall 20 to the edge of the bottle 10 intersection the front wall 16 and the right side wall 22. Vertically the optional back placard area 29 extends from a linear horizontal depression 30, as also shown by line G, above the bottom 14 which is substantially parallel the bottom 14 to an angled linear horizontal depression 32 above the linear horizontal depression 30 and below the tapered section 26. The angled linear horizontal depression 32 is angled upwards from the right side wall edge 22 to the left side wall edge 20. As shown in FIG. 2 the uppermost height of the optional back placard area 29 extends from line F to line E.

FIG. 5 depicts a right side wall view of the bottle 10. In this depiction it can be shown that both the optional front placard area 28 and the optional back placard area 29 are depressed into the hollow body 12 of the bottle 10. Both the optional front placard area 28 and the optional back placard area 29 are theorized to assist the novel bottle in achieving superior top load capability over previous bottles.

FIG. 6 depicts a left side wall view of the bottle 10. In this depiction six grooves 37a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e and 34f curved inwards towards the hollow body 12 are shown. Groves 34a, 34b, and 34c are situated in the edge of the bottle 10 intersecting the front wall 16 and the left side wall 20 and can be shown in both FIGS. 1 and 6. Groves 34d, 34e, and 34f are situated in the edge of the bottle 10 intersecting the back wall 18 and the left side wall 20 and can be shown in both FIGS. 2 and 6. The six grooves 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e and 34f are theorized to assist the novel bottle in achieving superior top load capability over previous bottles.

FIG. 7 depicts a top view of the bottle and FIG. 8 depicts a bottom view of the bottle. As shown in FIGS. 1 through 8, the edges of the bottle 10 are curved outward from the hollow body 12. Additionally, the corners of the bottle 10 are curved outward from the hollow body 12. These two novel features of the bottle are theorized to assist the novel bottle in achieving superior top load capability over previous bottles.

FIGS. 1 and 2 also depict optional inverted checkmarks 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e , and 36f. The optional inverted checkmarks can be curved inward towards the hollow body 12. These optional inverted checkmarks are theorized to assist the novel bottle in achieving superior top load capability over previous bottles.

This bottle can be made of any conventionally known material including high-density polyethelene. Due to different tinting of the high-density polyethelene the bottle can be opaque. If the bottle is opaque an optional transparent strip along the vertical centerline of the right side wall can be added to the bottle.

FIG. 9 depicts an optional right side wall view of the bottle depicting the optional vertical centerline 38. Optionally, a graduated volume number line 40 is also depicted on the right side wall. The graduated volume number line 40 can be on either the right side of the vertical center line 38, the left side of the vertical centerline 38 or on both sides of the vertical centerline 38.

Top Load Test

The top load capability of the bottle was tested and analyzed under four different conditions at room temperature. The procedure of the test begins by filling a 1 quart bottle with water. The filled bottle is then loaded onto a loading frame between two horizontal metal platens. The top platen moves down at 2″/min to provide a load onto the bottle and the load and deflection of the bottle is recorded during the loading.

FIG. 10 depicts a graph comparing load versus displacement of a fixed platen, unconstrained bottle.

FIG. 11 depicts a graph comparing load versus displacement of a fixed platen, constrained bottle.

FIG. 12 depicts a graph comparing load versus displacement of an articulating platen, unconstrained bottle.

FIG. 13 depicts a graph comparing load versus displacement of an articulating platen, constrained bottle.

A constrained bottle is a bottle with constraints surrounding the front wall, back wall, left side wall and the right side wall. This type of test simulates the placement of the bottle on a pallet with other bottles used during transport. An unconstrained bottle is a bottle without constraints.

The results of the analysis are shown below in table 1.

TABLE 1
		Bottle Weight	Max. Top Load
Platen	Bottle constraint	(gram)	(lbs)
Fixed	Constrained	48	72.4
		52	82.1
		55	90.4
	Unconstrained	48	51.8
		52	60.6
		55	68.5
Articulating	Constrained	48	60.7
		52	68.9
		55	75.8
	Unconstrained	48	38.0
		52	44.6
		55	51.6

Material Distribution Test

Several hundred points were measured on empty bottles using a hall effect thickness gauge. FIG. 14 depicts the thickness distribution mapped onto an analysis model built from a 3D CAD of the bottle. It is theorized that the distribution assists the novel bottle in achieving superior top load capability over previous bottles.

Leak Test Screening

To perform the leak test screening a bottle is filled with oil and put upside down vertically in a 95° F. environmental chamber. The bottle is then checked daily during the two weeks of test period. No leaks were detected from this test.

Drop Test

Drop impact analysis is performed with a drop height at 3 ft and a drop angle of 45 degrees. The results of the analysis are shown below in table 2.

TABLE 2
		Time to Reach	Min. KE	Stress on Bottle
Design	Weight (g)	Min. KE (s)	(in-lb)	at Min. KE (psi)
New Bottle	48	0.004425	11.36	~6500
	52	0.0042	12.39	~6200
	55	0.003975	13.23	~6150

In closing, it should be noted that the discussion of any reference is not an admission that it is prior art to the present invention, especially any reference that may have a publication date after the priority date of this application. At the same time, each and every claim below is hereby incorporated into this detailed description or specification as an additional embodiment of the present invention.

Although the systems and processes described herein have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. Those skilled in the art may be able to study the preferred embodiments and identify other ways to practice the invention that are not exactly as described herein. It is the intent of the inventors that variations and equivalents of the invention are within the scope of the claims while the description, abstract and drawings are not to be used to limit the scope of the invention. The invention is specifically intended to be as broad as the claims below and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A bottle comprising:

a hollow body;

a bottom;

a front wall;

a back wall, wherein the back wall is substantially parallel the front wall;

a left side wall;

a right side wall, wherein the right side wall is substantially parallel the left side wall, curved inwards towards the hollow body and shorter in height than the left side wall;

a tubular spout centrally orientated between the front wall and back wall of the bottle, the centerline of the tubular spout being offset from the right side wall toward the left side wall and sized to fit a 38 mm screw bottle cap; and

a tapered section interposed between and connecting the hollow body and the tubular spout, whereby the front wall, back wall, left side wall and right side wall connect and merge into the tubular spout and the front wall, back wall, left side wall and right side wall connect and merge into the bottom.

2. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the edges of the bottle are curved outward from the hollow body.

3. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the corners of the bottle are curved outward from the hollow body.

4. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the front wall contains a placard area that is depressed into the hollow body that extends horizontally from the edge of the bottle intersecting the front wall and left side wall to the edge of the bottle intersection the front wall and the right side wall and vertically from a linear horizontal depression above the bottom which is substantially parallel the bottom to an angled linear horizontal depression above the linear horizontal depression and below the tapered section which is angled upwards from the right side wall edge to the left side wall edge.

5. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the back wall contains a placard area that is depressed into the hollow body that extends horizontally from the edge of the bottle intersecting the back wall and left side wall to the edge of the bottle intersection the back wall and the right side wall and vertically from a linear horizontal depression above the bottom which is substantially parallel the bottom to an angled linear horizontal depression above the linear horizontal depression and below the tapered section which is angled upwards from the right side wall edge to the left side wall edge.

6. The bottle of claim 1, wherein three grooves curved inwards towards the hollow body are situated in the edge of the bottle intersecting the front wall and left side wall.

7. The bottle of claim 1, wherein three grooves curved inwards towards the hollow body are situated in the edge of the bottle intersecting the back wall and left side wall.

8. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the tubular spout is less than 1.25 times the height of the screw bottle cap.

9. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the tubular spout is less than 1.15 times the height of the screw bottle cap.

10. The bottle of claim 1, wherein a graduated volume number line is on the right side wall.

11. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the bottle is opaque.

12. The bottle of claim 11, wherein the opaque bottle comprises a transparent strip along the vertical centerline of the right side wall.

13. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the bottle is a 32 fl oz size bottle.

14. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the bottle is a 128 fl oz size bottle.

15. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the bottle is a 640 fl oz size bottle.

16. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the bottle is a 48 oz bottle.

17. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the bottle is a 8 oz bottle.

18. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the bottle is used to store motor oil.

19. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the bottle is manufactured from plastic and the edges of the bottle intersecting the front wall and the left side wall, the front wall and the right side wall, the back wall and the left side wall and the back wall and the right side wall are the thickest areas of plastic distribution.