CONTAINERS AND ACCESSORIES FOR PRECISE APPLICATION OF CONTENTS

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to accessories for containers and containers integrated with the accessories that provide a user increased precision in applying the contents of a container to a surface. The accessories or containers may include an arm that serves as a guide so that a user can apply the contents alongside an edge of the surface. Furthermore, the accessories or containers may provide the user with a high-degree of control over the distance from the edge that the contents are applied alongside.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/365,890, filed on Jul. 22, 2016, the entire contents of which are being hereby incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to containers and accessories for containers which have features enabling the precise application of the contents of the container. More specifically, the disclosure relates to containers and accessories for containers that may be used for precisely applying the contents of the containers along the edge of a surface.

BACKGROUND

Some containers may hold a flowable material or substance, with some non-limiting examples including liquids, gels, creams, pastes, and so forth. A user may wish to deposit some of the flowable contents of the container along the edge of a surface. However, it can be rather difficult for a user to manually apply the contents precisely along the edge of the surface. Considering the difficulty that humans have in drawing straight lines without the aid of a ruler, it may similarly be difficult to apply the contents of the container on a path alongside the edge of a surface, or to apply the contents at a specific distance from the edge.

Thus, there is a need for containers, container components, or accessories for containers that can provide a user a high degree of control to precisely apply the flowable contents of a container along the edge of a surface.

SUMMARY

The devices described herein each have several aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of this disclosure, several non-limiting features will now be described briefly.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to devices which serve as accessories for containers. The accessories may be configured to attach to certain features of containers in a way that prevents the movement and rotation of the accessory relative to the attached container feature. The accessories may have one or more arms that serve as a guide for the user when the accessory is attached to the container. The user may be able to press the arm against the side of a surface and keep the arm pressed against the side of the surface while moving the container along the edge of the surface, in order to apply the contents of the container along the edge of the surface. Depending on the configuration of the accessory, the user may be able to have a high degree of control over how close to the edge the contents are applied as the container is moved along the edge of the surface.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also relate to containers which are integrated with components of the accessories described herein. The containers may have the accessory built-in to certain features of the container in order to provide many of the same benefits associated with a standalone container accessory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of the claims. Aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this disclosure will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example embodiment of a container accessory.

FIG. 2 is top-down view of one example embodiment of a container accessory.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one example embodiment of a container.

FIG. 4 is a top-down view of one example embodiment of a cap for a container.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one example embodiment of a container accessory attached to a container.

FIG. 6 illustrates how an example embodiment of the container accessory may be used to precisely apply the contents of a container along the edge of a surface.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one example embodiment of a container having an integrated accessory.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

I. Introduction

This introduction provides examples which are purely intended to facilitate an easier understanding of the container accessories and containers described herein, and these examples are not intended to be limiting.

In many cases, containers hold flowable materials or substances, with some non-limiting examples including liquids, gels, creams, pastes, and so forth. These containers come in many shapes and sizes, such as bottles, jugs, squeeze tubes, and so forth, and often have a nozzle or opening at one end that a user can use to apply the flowable contents to an object or surface.

In some cases, the precise application of these flowable contents is not important. For example, a toothpaste tube is designed to allow a user to apply a pea-sized amount to the head of a toothbrush, and it is not difficult for a user to do so. However, in other cases, the precise application of the flowable contents is extremely important. For example, a user seeking to glue together two components that contact each other over a relatively small surface area would care a great deal about how, and where, the glue is applied to the components. Additionally, some types of glues or other adhesives may require precise stoichiometric application (e.g. a 1:1, or 1:5 mixture) of two or more components, e.g. a resin and a curing agent or hardener. In these applications, imprecise application of one component relative to the other component may lead to local deviations from the desired stoichiometric ratio, and thus cause wasteage, harmful or otherwise undesirable glue residue, and reduced performance of the mixture.

In some of such cases, a user may be seeking to apply the flowable contents of a container along the edge of a surface. However, it can be rather difficult for a user to manually apply the contents precisely along the edge of the surface. If the surface is a rectangle for instance, it may be difficult for a user to apply the contents in a straight line alongside an edge, ridge, or other surface feature of that surface. However, the surface could be any shape and the edge, protrusion, recession or other surface feature of the surface does not necessarily need to be a straight line. Consider a circular surface, or a surface in the shape of an animal—it would be quite difficult for a user to apply the contents of the container alongside the edges of those surfaces.

Non-limiting, example situations in which a user may want to apply contents alongside an edge, protrusion, recession or other feature of a surface would be if a user was wood-working, building furniture, making household repairs, and so forth. The user may want to apply glue to the edges of various components. If a user wanted to glue together a wooden box, the user would have to apply the glue alongside the edges of at least one of the wooden panels.

However, in practice, it can be quite difficult to precisely apply the contents of a container alongside the edge of a surface, just like how it is difficult to freehand draw straight lines on paper. To accomplish drawing straight lines on paper, a ruler is used. Similarly, an accessory is contemplated that can be used with the container to serve as a guide—guiding the nozzle of the container along the edge, protrusion, recession or other feature of the surface.

This disclosure describes various embodiments of accessories which may be attached to a container so that a user can precisely apply the contents of the container alongside the edge of a surface. These accessories further provide the user with a high-degree of control over how closely the contents are applied from the edge of the surface. This disclosure also describes various embodiments of containers in which the accessories are integrated into features of the container itself.

II. Overview of Container Accessory (FIGS. 1-6)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example embodiment of a container accessory.

Container accessory 100 may be an accessory designed to be attached to a container in order to allow the contents of the container to be precisely applied along the edge of a surface. As shown in the figure, container accessory 100 may have a mount 102 and an arm 104. The mount 102 and arm 104 may be separate units that are attached together, or they may be integrated together as a single unit.

Mount 102 may be configured for attaching the container accessory 100 to the container. It may be configured to attach to, or fit around, any part of the container, including the body of a container, the neck of a container, the cap of a container, a nozzle of a container, and so forth. Mount 102 may be formed of a singular material in a certain shape, and it may have a certain thickness, height, and one or more widths associated with it. For example, as shown in the figure, mount 102 is of a circular shape that is not fully-enclosed, and that circular shape may have an inner diameter and an outer diameter associated with it.

In general, the mount 102 may have a shape that matches a similarly-shaped feature of the container in order for container accessory 100 to be attached to the container. In the embodiment shown, mount 102 is a circular shape which allows the container accessory 100 to interface with a rounded or cylindrical feature of the container. However in other embodiments, mount 102 may be any shape. For example, mount 102 may be of a polygonal shape, such as a rectangle, square, star-shape, or so forth in order to fit around a similarly-shaped feature of the container.

Furthermore, the shape of mount 102 may be either fully-enclosed or portions of the shape may be missing. As seen in the figure, the circular shape of mount 102 is not fully-enclosed and approximately a quarter of the circle is missing. In other embodiments, the shape of mount 102 may be fully-enclosed so that the shape is continuous. There may be advantages and disadvantages associated with either configuration. A mount 102 having a fully-enclosed shape has additional structural rigidity, but it may also make it more difficult to attach/detach the container accessory 100 from a container. For example, a fully-enclosed mount 102 may have to be slid over a feature of the container in order to be attached or detached. A mount 102 without a fully-enclosed shape may lack the additional structural rigidity, but it may be more convenient for a user seeking to attach/detach the container accessory 100. For example, a mount 102 without a fully-enclosed shape could be similarly slid over a feature of the container, or the mount 102 could be wrapped around that feature as the shape is temporarily deformed. To remove the container accessory 100, the mount 102 could be pried off as the shape is temporarily deformed.

Arm 104 may be configured to allow a user to guide the container during the application of the contents along the edge of a surface, resulting in more precise application. This functionality is shown in practice in FIG. 6.

In the figure shown, there is a single arm 104. However, other embodiments may have any number of arms on the container accessory. For example, there may be two arms, with each arm on opposing sides of the container accessory. However, a singular arm 104 may provide various benefits over having additional arms, as having more than one arm 104 may reduce the flexibility and usability of the container accessory 100 by obstructing certain orientations of the container during application. Two or more arms, especially arms which protrude past the end of a container, may actually result in one or more of the arms not being used as a guide. Those arms may get in the way by obstructing the range of angles of the container relative to the application surface. The angle of the container relative to the application surface is one of the variables in determining how far from the edge of the surface the contents of the container are being applied. Thus, having additional arms may restrict the user's control and the precision at which the contents are applied along the edge of the surface. This may be better understood in the context provided in FIG. 6.

Arm 104 may include a bend 106 and a tip 108.

The bend 106 serves to move the tip 108 closer to the nozzle of a container, which allows for a user to apply the contents of the container closer to the edge of a surface if desired. In some embodiments, there may not be a bend 106 in the arm 104, and arm 104 may be generally straight. In particular, if arm 104 is already close to the nozzle of the container, or if the tip 108 is already close to the nozzle of the container, a bend 106 may not be needed. In some embodiments, the bend 106 has an angle between 0 degrees to 90 degrees. In other embodiments, the bend 106 has an angle between 30 to 60 degrees. In other embodiments, the bend 106 has an angle of approximately 45 degrees. In other embodiments, the bend 106 has an angle between 40 to 70 degrees. In other embodiments, the bend 106 has an angle between 20 to 50 degrees. Both the angle and length of bend 106 may affect how close tip 106 is to the nozzle of the container.

The tip 108 of the arm 104 is shown as having a flat surface on one side. However, tip 108 need not have a flat surface, and it may have a surface of any shape or dimension. Some non-limiting examples include a rounded surface, a pointed surface (e.g., a triangle edge), and so forth. However, there may be benefits associated with having a flat surface for tip 108. During use of the container accessory 100, the tip 108 may be pressed against the edge or side of a surface, which will commonly be straight. Thus, a tip 108 with a flat surface can be firmly pressed alongside that straight edge or side, which provides stability during the application process by preventing the system of the container accessory 100 and container from rotating during the application process. Without the extra stability, it would be much more difficult for a user to apply the contents of the container along a straight path that is parallel to the edge of the surface.

Arm 104 may also have a taper associated with it. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the base of arm 104 is shown to have a greater thickness than the bend 106 and tip 108 of the arm. The base of arm 104 is thicker than the bend 106, and the thickness of bend 106 is greater than the tip 108. Thus, the thickness of arm 104 is shown to decrease away from the base of the arm 104. This taper may be implemented in various ways. For example, the thickness of arm 104 may decrease monotonically away from the base of the arm 104. Different portions of arm 104 may have the same thicknesses. Transitions in thickness may be gradual, or they may be abrupt transitions in thickness. The taper adds a degree of flexibility to the arm 104, and the configuration of the taper may affect which portions of arm 104 are flexible as well as the degree of flexibility of those portions. Flexibility in the arm 104 may provide a user with additional control and precision when using container accessory 100 to apply contents along the edge of a surface. In particular, the flexibility in arm 104 allows a user to bend arm 104 away from the nozzle of the container during the application process, resulting in the contents of the container being applied at a greater distance from the edge of the surface.

Components of container accessory 100, including the mount 102 and the arm 104 may be made of any rigid or semi-rigid material, including but not limited to, metals, woods, or plastics—including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), and so forth. The strength and deformability of the material chosen may, along with the degree of taper in the arm 104, affect how much—and how easily—the arm 104 can be bent from its resting configuration. This would in-turn, affect how far the tip 108 can be bent away from nozzle of the container. The more that tip 108 can be bent away from the nozzle, the further from the edge of a surface that the container's contents can be applied while still utilizing the arm 104 as a guide. However, if tip 108 is too easily bent away from the nozzle and easily repositioned, arm 104 may not properly serve as a guide. The distance between the tip 108 and the nozzle may fluctuate wildly, leading to the contents being applied at varying distances from the edge of the surface. Thus, careful consideration should be taken when choosing the materials for the container accessory 100, as well as the configuration and degree of taper in the arm 104. Again, this can be better visualized in the context provided by FIG. 6.

FIG. 2 is top-down view of one example embodiment of a container accessory.

The container accessory may have one or more inner projections 202 on the inner surface of the mount. Inner projections 202 may be configured to fit into one or more recesses on the container, in order to improve the fit between the container accessory and the container. In particular, the inner projections 202 and the complementary recesses on the container may increase the surface area of contact between the container accessory and the container.

Furthermore, the fit between the inner projections 202 and the recesses of the container may lock the container accessory into place and prevent rotation between the container accessory and the part of the container that the container accessory is attached to. During application of the contents of the container, a user may rotate or invert the container. Furthermore, the user may press the container accessory against the edge of a surface. This extra degree of fit and attachment prevents the container accessory from being knocked loose and either falling off or rotating. Since the arm of the container accessory plays an important role in guiding the application of the contents of the container along the edge of a surface, it is important that the orientation of the arm is not changed during use.

In some embodiments, the container may have a cap, and the cap may have the recesses so that the container accessory is attached to the cap of the container. Such embodiments are shown in more detail in FIGS. 3-5, with addition detail about the recesses provided in regards to FIG. 4. In such embodiments, an attached container accessory would be firmly coupled to the cap so that the accessory would not be rotatable relative to the cap. However, in some of such embodiments, the cap itself may be rotatable. Thus, a user may be able to grasp and rotate the container accessory in order to rotate the cap, with the rotational force being translated to the cap through the tight engagement between the inner projections 202 and the recesses.

The container accessory may also have one or more outer projections 204. These outer projections 204 may provide additional grip for the user. In the previously mentioned example in which the container accessory is attached to a rotatable cap of the container, the outer projections 204 give the user additional grip for rotating the container accessory (which translates into rotating the cap itself). When the container is by itself (i.e., the container accessory is not being used), the cap itself may have features (e.g., recesses or projections) that provide a user grip for rotating the cap. However, those features may end up being covered up by the container accessory when the accessory is attached (and often used in attaching the accessory). The outer projections 204 serve to reintroduce some form of grip for the user that can be used to ultimately rotate the cap. Thus, the outer projections 204 need not be projections and could be any feature used to provide a user additional grip, such as recesses, scores, dimples, abrasive surfaces, and so forth.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one example embodiment of a container. More specifically, FIG. 3 shows a bottle with a cap that is designed to interface with a container accessory, allowing the container accessory to be attached to the bottle.

As shown in the figure, container 300 is a bottle having a generally cylindrical shape that narrows towards the neck of the container. However, container 300 may be any kind of container designed to hold flowable contents. Non-limiting examples of container types include bottles, flasks, jugs, squeeze tubes (such as toothpaste or epoxy tubes designed to be squeezed/rolled), and so forth. Container 300 may also have any kind of shape. Non-limiting examples of container shapes include generally cylindrical or rounded shapes, generally rectangular shapes, and so forth. Thus, regardless of whether if container 300 were, for example, a bottle having a rectangular body or a squeeze tube having a cylindrical body, an attached container accessory would still be able to allow for the precise application of container 300's contents.

As shown in the figure, container 300 is made of a flexible plastic which may be squeezed by a user in order to increase the flow-rate of the contents leaving the container 300. However, container 300 may be made of any kind of material and have any kind of structural rigidity/flexibility. Non-limiting examples of materials include metals, glass, and plastics—such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), and so forth. Making container 300 with a material that allows container 300 to be squeezable may provide additional benefits, such as allowing the user to have better control of the flow-rate of contents leaving the container 300. In this regard, the container accessory may provide the user better control over where the contents are applied, while squeezing the container 300 can provide the user better control of how much of the contents are applied at those locations.

Container 300 may have a cap 302 and a nozzle 304. Cap 302 and nozzle 304 may each be made of individual units, or they may be integrated into a single unit. Alternatively, cap 302 and nozzle 304 may be integrated with container 300 to be a single unit. Cap 302 may be configured to attach to a neck or opening of container 300 in order to keep in the contents. For example, cap 302 may be a screw closure that is screwed on/off of a finish on container 300. There may be complementary, continuous threads or lugs on both the cap 302 and the neck of container 300. Nozzle 304 may be configured for allowing the contents of the container 300 to flow out of the container 300. Nozzle 304 may have an open configuration and a closed configuration, and the user may be able to change the configuration of nozzle 304 between open or closed in order to allow or restrict the contents of container 300 to flow out. For example, nozzle 304 and cap 302 together may be of a “sports cap” design, such that nozzle 304 can be pulled upwards into an open configuration to allow the contents to flow out, and pushing nozzle 304 downwards into its closed configuration may prevent the contents from flowing out. In an embodiment, nozzle 304 may be connected to two or more compartments or reservoirs within container 300, facilitating a mixing (e.g. stoichiometric mixing) of two or more components (e.g. resin and plasticizer) stored separately within container 300.

Nozzle 304 may have an opening of any shape, and the shape and dimensions of the opening in nozzle 304 may affect the rate at which the contents leave the container 300 during application, as well as how the contents are applied. Non-limiting examples of the shapes of the opening in nozzle 304 may include generally circular openings, generally rectangular openings, generally slot-shaped openings, and so forth. As seen in the figure, nozzle 304 has an opening which is rectangular or slot-shaped, with a length that exceeds the width. Thus, the orientation of this opening during the application process relative to the direction the user moves the container 300 would affect how the contents are applied. If the container is moved in a straight line along the same direction as the length of the opening, the contents would be applied on a surface in a narrow straight line having a width of approximately the width of the opening. Alternatively, if the container is moved in a straight line along the same direction as the width of the opening (and perpendicular to the length), then the contents would be applied on a surface in a wide straight line having the width of approximately the length of the opening. Advantageously, by choosing a shape of nozzle 304 that is non-symmetric with respect to rotation around the flow direction, the user may be able to choose or determine the flow quantity and/or flow pattern.

Advantageously, in some embodiments, the nozzle 304 and/or the orientation of its opening may be rotated or changed relative to the container accessory (e.g., the arm of the accessory). For example, the nozzle 304 may be freely rotatable, or a user may detach the container accessory, rotate it, and then reattach it in order to re-orient it relative to the opening of the nozzle 304. Thus, by having the container accessory be freely-rotatable relative to the orientation of the nozzle 304 opening, the user may be able to exercise more control over the width of the path of application of the contents of container 300 while applying the contents along the edge of a surface. Additional information about the application of contents using the container accessory is provided in regards to FIG. 6.

FIG. 4 is a top-down view of one example embodiment of a cap for a container. More specifically, FIG. 4 provides a top-down view of the cap 302 shown in FIG. 3.

Here, the cap is shown with one or more recesses 402. Recesses 402 may serve a number of functions. Typically, the recesses 402 may provide a user with additional grip on the cap. For embodiments in which the cap is a screw closure that is intended to be screwed on or off the container, recesses 402 may provide the user with grip that allows the necessary torque to be applied in turning the cap clockwise or counter-clockwise.

However, recesses 402 may also serve to interface with the container accessory and serve as a way for the container accessory to be attached. For example, inner projections 202 of the container accessory shown in FIG. 2 may fit into the recesses 402. The container accessory can be attached to the cap by sliding the container accessory onto the cap, making sure that the inner projections 202 line up with, and slide into, the recesses 402. This firmly secures the container accessory to the cap assuming that the diameter of the cap is approximately equal to the inner diameter of the container accessory. The result is that the container accessory is no longer freely-rotatable relative to the cap, and the container accessory would not fall off—even if the container and its cap were to be inverted upside-down.

Furthermore, in embodiments for which the cap is a screw closure, the interface between the inner projections 202 of the container accessory and the recesses 402 of the cap may allow the user to grip and rotate the container accessory in order to rotate the cap. For example, once the container accessory is attached to the cap, the user may be able to grasp and rotate the container accessory. Since the container accessory is firmly attached to the cap, this would result in the cap rotating as well. More specifically, any torque applied to the container accessory would be translated to the cap via the inner projections 202 and the recesses 402. As the container accessory is rotated, each of the inner projections 202 pushes against a side of the recesses 402, causing the cap to rotate as well. Thus, the container accessory may be configured to be attached to the cap while still allowing a user to rotate the cap without directly touching or rotating the cap.

There may be any number of recesses 402 on the cap. As shown in the figure, the cap has twelve recesses 402. In some cases, having additional recesses 402 and inner projections 202 may improve the attachment strength between the container accessory and the cap, as well as improve the rotational translation from the container accessory to the cap while reducing the possibility of slippage. For example, a cap with twenty recesses 402 may be firmly attached to a container accessory with twenty inner projections 202, and any torque from rotating the container accessory may easily translate to the cap. In comparison, a cap with a single recess may be attached to a container accessory with a single inner projection. However, this attachment may be looser and make it more difficult for a user to rotate the cap from rotating the container accessory. There may be slippage from the inner projection of the container accessory slipping out of the recess, resulting in the container accessory rotating around the cap without the cap rotating.

The shape of the recesses 402 may be any shape, and are generally complementary to the shape of the inner projections 202 of the container accessory. In the embodiment shown, the recesses 402 are rounded in order to fit rounded inner projections 202, like the ones shown in FIG. 2. The shapes and dimensions of the recesses 402 and the inner projections 202 may also play a role in the attachment strength between the container accessory and the cap, as well as affect the rotational translation from the container accessory to the cap. Non-limiting examples of shapes for the recesses 402 may include a square or rectangular recess, a triangular recess, a slot-shaped recess, and so forth. Deeper recesses 402 may have more surface area for the inner projections 202 to engage, which may result in a stronger attachment and a better translation of rotation of the container accessory into rotation of the cap.

There may be any number of recesses 402 relative to the number of inner projections 202, although in general, the number of inner projections 202 may be equal to, or less than, the number of recesses 402. For example, in some embodiments, the number of recesses 402 may match the number of inner projections 202 of the container accessory, but this does not have to be the case. This is often the case if the container accessory is specifically tailored to the cap, and the matching numbers of recesses 402 and inner projections 202 results in an improvement in the attachment.

However, in some embodiments the number of inner projections 202 may actually be less than the number of recesses 402. For example, there may be twelve recesses 402 as shown, and there may be only eight or nine inner projections 202 on the container accessory. Thus, not all of the recesses 402 may be engaged by the container accessory. Container accessories having less inner projections 202 may fit a wider range of containers. For example, a container accessory having four inner projections 202 may be able to fit a wide variety of caps having four or more recesses (e.g., four, eight, sixteen, etc.) depending on the positioning and spacing of those recesses relative to the inner projections 202. Thus, a lower number of inner projections 202 may improve the number of container caps that the container accessory can fit, but having too few inner projections 202 may detract from the fit between the container accessory and the cap—making it more likely for slippage to occur between the container accessory and the cap if the user rotates the container accessory. Careful consideration may be taken in order to balance these trade-offs.

Furthermore, it should be noted that there does not necessarily need to be inner projections 202 on the container accessory with recesses 402 on the container cap. Instead, in other embodiments, the recesses could be on the container accessory with protrusions on the cap. Additionally, the engagement features need not be projections and recesses. The important feature is that there is a way for the cap and the container accessory to be secured to one another and prevent the rotation of the container accessory relative to the cap. For example, a user may be able to apply glue to the inner surface of the container accessory in order to glue the accessory to the cap. Other non-limiting examples of features for forming a tight engagement between the container accessory and the cap include friction fits, snap fits, a screw couple involving threads or lugs, the use of adhesives or fasteners, and so forth. However, it may advantageous for the container accessory and the cap to have complementary features that can engage each other, not only to secure the accessory to the cap and prevent its free rotation, but also be dis-engaged so that the container accessory can be re-oriented or not used at all. In other words, in some embodiments, the container accessory may have an engagement feature configured for engaging and disengaging a complementary engagement feature on the container. Engaging results in the container accessory being attached to the container so that the container accessory is not easily rotatable relative to the container, while disengaging the features results in the container accessory detaching from the container.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one example embodiment of a container accessory attached to a container.

More specifically, the figure shows container accessory 100 attached to container 300, which is a bottle having a cap and nozzle. The container accessory 100 is attached to the cap, with the inner projections of the container accessory 100 fitting into the recesses of the cap.

With the container accessory 100 fitted on the container, the arm of the container accessory 100 is seen next to the nozzle. In some embodiments, the tip of the arm may be approximately level with the end of the nozzle when the container accessory is attached. In some embodiments, the tip of the arm may extend past the nozzle when the container accessory is attached (not shown).

Having the tip of the arm extend past the nozzle may provide the user more control over the application of the contents. In particular, it provides a bigger surface area on the container accessory for contacting the edge of any surface on which the contents are being applied. This allows for a wider range of angles for which the container can be positioned (relative to the application surface) and contact between the container accessory and the application surface can be maintained. In other words, it conveniently allows the user to have more freedom in positioning the container during application of the contents without the worry that the arm of the container accessory will slip away from the edge of the application surface. The end result is more precise application of the contents, since there is more margin of error for how the container and the container accessory can be positioned (relative to the edge) in order for the contents to be applied along a path having a relatively constant distance from the edge of the application surface. This is better illustrated and explained in regards to FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 illustrates how an example embodiment of the container accessory may be used to precisely apply the contents of a container along the edge of a surface. More specifically, the figure illustrates a bottle having a cap and a nozzle, with a container accessory attached to the cap.

The bottle is inverted, and the tip 108 on the arm of the container accessory is contacting the side of a surface adjacent to the edge of the surface that the user wishes to apply the contents of the bottle to. The tip 108 serves as a guide for the nozzle 304 of the bottle during the application process. As a user moves the bottle parallel along the edge of the surface, the tip 108 of the arm continually maintains contact with the side of the surface. This allows the nozzle 304 of the bottle to maintain a relatively constant distance from the edge of the surface, resulting in the application of the contents in a straight path that is generally parallel to the edge of the surface. If the nozzle 304 opening has a shape that allows for it (e.g., a rectangle), the user can orient the nozzle 304 opening to produce either a thicker or thinner application path for the contents.

It should be noted that the distance from the applied contents to the edge of the surface is subject to a few conditions, and the container accessory disclosed herein may be configured to provide the user a high degree of control over those conditions.

One such condition is the distance between the tip 108 of the arm to the opening in the nozzle 304. A shorter distance generally results in the contents being applied closer to the edge of the surface, while a longer distance generally results in the contents being applied further from the edge of the surface. This distance is affected by the relative heights of the nozzle 304 and the tip 108, as well as the horizontal distance between the tip 108 and the nozzle 304. A user may have some degree of control over both. Since the container accessory is separate, in some embodiments, the user may be able to slide the container accessory up or down the cap in order to position the container accessory higher or lower on the cap. This would affect the height of the tip 108 relative to the nozzle 304, with a higher-seated container accessory having a relatively-higher tip 108 than a lower-seated accessory. In regards to the horizontal distance between the tip 108 and the nozzle 304, that can depend on both position of the arm and the degree of bend in the arm. However, the arm itself may be made using a flexible material and/or have a taper that introduces some flexibility into the arm. Thus, during the application process the user could push the container inwards from the edge using varying degrees of force. Since the tip 108 of the arm is pressed against the side of the surface, the arm would flex or bend away from the nozzle depending on the force applied—increasing the distance between the tip 108 and the nozzle. The container accessory does not fall off from this applied force since it has engagement features that firmly couples it to the container cap, which in this case is the inner projections on the container accessory that engage the recesses in the cap.

Another condition that affects the distance between the applied contents and the edge of the surface is the angle between the opening of the nozzle 304 and the tip 108, which is indirectly dependent on the distance between the tip 108 of the arm to the opening in the nozzle 304 (as previously described). However, in many cases the nozzle of the container will have a fixed angle relative to the container. For example, in the illustration the nozzle of the container meets the container at a 90-degree angle, and it protrudes vertically from the container. The nozzle cannot be bent. Thus, in practice, a user would control the angle between the opening of the nozzle 304 and the tip 108 by controlling the angle of the container relative to the application surface. In the illustration shown, if the user holds the bottle perfectly inverted so that it is perpendicular to the surface while pressing tip 108 against the side of the surface, the contents of the bottle cannot be applied directly on the edge of a surface unless the distance between the tip 108 and nozzle 304 is infinitesimally small. In fact, the distance between the application bath and the edge of the surface would be the horizontal distance between opening in nozzle 304 and the tip 108. However, by tilting the bottle away from this perpendicular orientation (to point the bottom of the bottle more towards the edge) while still continuing to press tip 108 against the side of the surface, the user can apply the contents of the bottle closer to the edge. The greater degree of tilt away from the perpendicular orientation, the closer the contents are applied to the edge of the surface. However, care should be taken not to tilt the bottle too much (e.g., completely horizontal). Depending on the height of the tip 108 relative to the nozzle 304, at some degree of tilt the nozzle 304 would no longer be above the surface causing the contents to miss the surface entirely. This example also demonstrates how having more than one arm in the container accessory may limit the range of angles in which the bottle may be tilted. For example, if the container accessory had two arms with heights that extended past the nozzle of the bottle, a user would be unable to hold the bottle perpendicular to the surface shown while keeping one arm pressed against the side of the surface.

Thus, a user has a great degree of control on how closely the contents of the container is applied to the edge of a surface by controlling the position of the container accessory, the flex in the arm of the container accessory, and the tilt of the container. In practice, it may be intuitive for a user to control these different variables to apply the contents at the desired distance from the edge. Furthermore, the user may be able to easily hold these variables constant (e.g., maintain the container at constant tilt) while moving the container, which would apply the contents in a generally straight path that is parallel to the edge of the surface. However, a user may also be able to adjust these variables while moving the container, so that the contents are applied at varying distances from the edge of the surface. The container accessories disclosed herein provide the user a great degree of control to precisely apply the contents of the container along the edge of a surface however the user may desire.

As previously mentioned, the functionality of the container accessory and the degree of control it provides a user may be particularly useful in many cases. For example, the flowable contents of the container may be an adhesive (e.g., glue) and the user may be looking to glue various panels together to form a box, so it is vital that the glue is applied closely to the edges of these panels in order to form the box. It would be desirable for the glue to be applied in a straight path parallel to the edges, so that the box is even. Another scenario may be that the flowable contents of the container may be a sealant (e.g., caulk), and a user is looking to apply the caulk along the edge of a surface in order to provide a water-tight seal.

In many of the examples shown, the surface is illustrated as a rectangular surface having straight edges in order to facilitate understanding. However, it should be noted that the surface can be any shape, and the edge of the surface does not need to be a straight line. Advantageously, the use of the container accessory as a guide allows a user to easily apply the contents alongside the edge by following the edge, no matter what the shape of the surface is.

III. Containers Haying an Integrated Accessory (FIG. 7)

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one example embodiment of a container. More specifically, the figure illustrates an embodiment of a container in which components of the container accessory (e.g., the arm) is integrated into a feature of the container itself. A container with an integrated accessory may preserve many of the same benefits provided by a standalone accessory. In some embodiments, the accessory may be integrated into the cap of the container.

In the illustration provided, the container has a cap 702 which has an integrated arm 704. The arm 704 has a bend 706 and a tip 708. A user would utilize the arm 704 as a guide in the same manner as previously described, by pressing the tip 708 against the side of a surface while applying the contents of the container alongside the edge of that surface. However, the arm 704 does not necessarily need to be integrated into the cap 702 of the container. In other embodiments, the arm 704 may be integrated into the body of the container, or arm 704 may even be integrated onto the nozzle of the container.

An integrated accessory may provide convenience to the user since it cannot be detached from the container. However, if a user presses too forcefully the arm 704 may snap off, whereas in the case of a standalone container accessory, the container accessory may detach and pop off the container without breaking. Furthermore, a single standalone container accessory can be utilized with various containers when an integrated accessory cannot. A user could also swap different standalone container accessories of different configurations onto a container based on their desired need. For example, a user could use a container accessory having a long arm and a rounded tip for one application, and then replace it with a container accessory having a shorter arm and a flat tip for another application. With an integrated accessory, the user does not have that flexibility.

Claims

1. A container accessory for guiding application of a flowable material in a container along an edge of a surface, the container accessory comprising:

a mount configured to allow the container accessory to be attached to the container and detached from the container;

an arm extending from the mount, the arm comprising: a bend; and a tip; and

wherein, when the container accessory is attached to the container, the arm is configured to be pressed against a side of the surface to guide application of the flowable material in the container along the edge of the surface.

2. The container accessory in claim 1, wherein the mount comprises a container engagement feature configured to engage a complementary accessory engagement feature of the container in order to attach the container accessory to the container, and wherein the container engagement feature may be disengaged from the complementary accessory engagement feature of the container in order to detach the container accessory from the container.

3. The container accessory of claim 2, wherein the container engagement feature comprises one or more inner projections on an inner surface of the mount, and wherein the complementary accessory engagement feature of the container comprises one or more recesses.

4. The container accessory of claim 1, wherein the mount has a generally circular shape.

5. The container accessory of claim 1, wherein the bend is configured to position the tip of the arm closer to a nozzle of the container.

6. The container accessory of claim 1, wherein the tip of the arm comprises a flat surface.

7. The container accessory of claim 1, wherein the arm decreases in thickness as the arm extends further from the mount resulting in a taper.

8. The container accessory of claim 1, wherein the tip comprises a thickness, wherein the bend comprises a thickness, and wherein the thickness of the tip is less than the thickness of the bend.

9. The container accessory of claim 1, wherein the arm further comprises a flexible material, such that the arm bends when pressed against the side of the surface.

10. The container accessory of claim 7, wherein the taper increases the flexibility of the arm, such that the arm bends when pressed against the side of the surface.

11. The container accessory of claim 1, wherein the container accessory is not substantially rotatable relative to the container when the container accessory is attached to the container.

12. The container accessory of claim 1, wherein the tip is positioned higher than a nozzle of the container when the container accessory is attached to the container.

13. The container accessory of claim 1, wherein the bend has an angle between 30 to 60 degrees.

14. The container accessory of claim 1, wherein the container is a bottle and the flowable material in the container is an adhesive.

15. A container for guiding application of a flowable material in the container along an edge of a surface, the container comprising:

a container body;

a cap;

a nozzle; and

an arm configured to be pressed against a side of the surface to guide application of the flowable material in the container along the edge of the surface.

16. The container of claim 15, wherein the arm comprises a flexible material, such that the the arm bends when pressed against the side of the surface.

17. The container of claim 15, wherein the arm comprises a bend and a tip, wherein the bend is configured to position the tip of the arm closer to a nozzle of the container.

18. The container of claim 15, wherein the arm has a varying thickness resulting in a taper, wherein the taper increases the flexibility of the arm, such that the arm bends when pressed against the side of the surface.

19. The container of claim 15, wherein the arm extends from the cap.

20. The container of claim 15, wherein the container is a bottle and the container body is squeezable.