CAP-CONCEALING BOTTLE SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention relates to a bottle which elegantly conceals a standard threaded [or ridged or single/double notched or tabbed] rod which conceals and holds the bottle cap in a substantially-concealed central/bottom cavity in the bottle's side-wall or base. The rod stemming from the cavity may further comprise an end-threaded (or ribbed or single-or-double-notched or tabbed) tip so the user may “pop on/off” the cap. The rod may also protrude from the bottle's sidewall without a cavity, and the rod may also be removable from the bottle via adhesive. The bottle's manufacture specifications are further enumerated infra.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Utility Patent Application No. 62/563,329 filed Sep. 26, 2017. The content of the above application is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates to the field of bottles, bottle caps, containers, container caps, threaded caps, threaded rods, and multi-featured bottles and multi-featured containers.

BACKGROUND

Heretofore, bottles with hidden compartments for their caps have primarily utilized external snaps, grooves, notches, hooks, sleeves, or otherwise required removable or protruding fasteners to clip-and-conceal bottle caps once removed from their initial neck position. These models often involve complex fastening steps or add unnecessary and bulky features to otherwise shapely bottles.

Similarly, many bottles hide their caps via overlapping bands or lips, or they utilize a plurality of frangible stalks to conceal or fasten the caps apart from their customary threaded necks and mouths. Still other bottle models hide their disengaged caps inside side-or-top cavities which require additional lids, overlays or track-slide covers.

What is needed is a bottle that securely hides its removed-cap in a convenient place so the user does not lose it or prematurely throw it away. The bottle must also offer its concealment feature in a scalable, efficient, stable way that does not add to the bottle's manufacturing cost, compromise the bottle's stability, or alter the bottle's overall size for customary shipping, storing and dispensing.

SUMMARY

The invention relates to a bottle which elegantly conceals a standard threaded [or ridged or single/double notched or tabbed] rod which conceals and holds the bottle cap in a substantially-concealed central/bottom cavity in the bottle's side-wall or base. The rod stemming from the cavity may further comprise an end-threaded (or ribbed or single-or-double-notched or tabbed) tip so the user may “pop on/off” the cap. The rod may also protrude from the bottle's sidewall without a cavity, and the rod may also be removable from the bottle via adhesive. The bottle's manufacture specifications are further enumerated infra.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only and illustrate only selected embodiments of the present invention. The enclosed drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

The drawings are therefore illustrative of some of the various embodiments of the “cap concealing and holding” system:

FIG. 1 is a perspective elevational view of the CAP-CONCEALING BOTTLE

FIG. 2 is perspective elevational view of the CAP-CONCEALING BOTTLE.

FIG. 3 is an isometric LEFT SIDE view of the CAP-CONCEALING BOTTLE.

FIG. 4 is an isometric RIGHT SIDE view of the CAP-CONCEALING BOTTLE.

FIG. 5 is a FRONT view of the CAP-CONCEALING BOTTLE.

FIG. 6 is a REAR view of the CAP-CONCEALING BOTTLE.

FIG. 7 is a TOP view of the CAP-CONCEALING BOTTLE.

FIG. 8 is a BOTTOM view of the CAP-CONCEALING BOTTLE.

FIG. 9 are progressive ‘before during and after’ views of CAP-CONCEALING SYSTEM.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the ribbed upper body shaft embodiment of the BOTTLE.

FIG. 11 is a sectional capped view of the threaded upper body shaft embodiment of BOTTLE.

FIG. 12 is a sectional of the threaded upper body shaft embodiment of the BOTTLE.

FIG. 13 is a sectional capped view of the ribbed upper body shaft embodiment of BOTTLE.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the 1/single-notched upper body embodiment of the BOTTLE.

FIG. 15 is a sectional capped view of single-notched upper body embodiment of BOTTLE,

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the 2-prong upper body embodiment of the BOTTLE.

FIG. 17 is a sectional capped view of the 2-notched upper body embodiment of the BOTTLE.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the double pronged BOTTLE.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view of the capped double pronged BOTTLE.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view of the ring-notch BOTTLE.

FIG. 21 is a sectional capped view of the ring-notch embodiment of the BOTTLE.

FIG. 22 is a sectional view of the ribbed stick-on embodiment of the BOTTLE.

FIG. 23 is a sectional view of the ribbed capped stick on embodiment of the BOTTLE.

FIG. 24 is a sectional view of the stick on double notch embodiment of the BOTTLE

FIG. 25 is a sectional view of the capped stick on double notch embodiment of the BOTTLE.

FIG. 26 is sectional view of the belly thread cavity embodiment of the BOTTLE.

FIG. 27 is a sectional capped view of the belly thread cavity embodiment of the BOTTLE.

FIG. 28 is a sectional view of the belly single notch embodiment of the BOTTLE.

FIG. 29 is a sectional capped view of the belly single notch embodiment of the BOTTLE.

FIG. 30 is a sectional view of the double notched embodiment of the BOTTLE.

FIG. 31 is a sectional view of the capped double notched embodiment of the BOTTLE.

FIG. 32 is a sectional of the ribbed belly protrusion embodiment of the BOTTLE

FIG. 33 is a sectional vi of the capped ribbed belly protrusion embodiment of BOTTLE.

FIG. 34 is a sectional view of the belly single notch protrusion embodiment of the BOTTLE.

FIG. 35 is a sectional of capped belly single notch protrusion embodiment of BOTTLE.

FIG. 36 is sectional view of the belly double notch protrusion embodiment of the BOTTLE.

FIG. 37 is a sectional view of capped belly double notch protrusion embodiment of BOTTLE.

FIG. 38 is a sectional view of stick-on double notched belly embodiment of BOTTLE.

FIG. 39 is a capped view of stick-on double notched belly embodiment of BOTTLE.

FIG. 40 is a sectional view of the stick-on belly ribbed embodiment of BOTTLE

FIG. 41 is a sectional view of capped stick-on belly ribbed embodiment of BOTTLE.

FIG. 42 is a sectional view of [opt. stick-on] double prong belly embodiment of BOTTLE.

FIG. 43 is sectional view of capped [opt. stick-on] ring notch belly embodiment of BOTTLE.

FIG. 44 is a sectional view of the ring notch belly embodiment of the BOTTLE.

FIG. 45 is a sectional capped view of the ring notch belly embodiment of the BOTTLE

FIG. 46 is a sectional view of the bottom cavity threaded embodiment of the BOTTLE.

FIG. 47 is a sectional capped view of the bottom cavity threaded embodiment of BOTTLE.

FIG. 48 is sect view of the [opt.stickon] bottom cavity double-notch embodiment of BOTTLE.

FIG. 49 is capped view of [opt-stick-on] bottom cavity double notch embodiment of BOTTLE.

FIG. 50 is a sect view of [optional stick-on] bottom cavity ring-notch embodiment BOTTLE

FIG. 51 is sect capped view of opt'I stick-on bottom-cavity ring-notch embodiment BOTTLE.

FIG. 52 is a sect view of the altered-body form ribbed or threaded BOTTLE.

FIG. 53 is a sect. view of altered [herein capped] body form of ribbed or threaded BOTTLE.

FIG. 54 is a sect view of an altered-body form of ring-notched BOTTLE.

FIG. 55 is a sect view of an altered [herein capped] body form of ring-notched BOTTLE.

FIG. 56 is altered-body form of double notched embodiment of the BOTTLE.

FIG. 57 is altered-body form of [as capped] double notch embodiment of the BOTTLE.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the Bottle with Hidden Cap Holder. The bottle may be comprised of industry-standard materials or designer amalgams; the preferred embodiments being polyethylene terephthalate plastic or glass. FIGS. 2-45 show similar alternate embodiments of same cap-concealing method, wherein user can hold their cap without discarding it entirely, and without spending the time to “bottle up” their own beverage while they want to take another sip in mere seconds. As such, various “cap holding and cap concealing” methods are disclosed, offering specific positioning and methodology for temporarily holding (and concealing) said cap. The majority of said methods involve quickly “popping” the cap onto a rod. The rod is a protrusion from the bottle (as injection molded or other known means), or as “stuck on” rod, via adhesive. Said methods include notches, prongs, ridges, threads, ribs-rather-than-threads, and simple under-shafts.

FIG. 46 illustrates the preferred embodiment, an “underneath ‘capstash™’ method, shown as a deformation of the standard beverage bottle, herein a stable four-fingered-hump design (typical of industry-standard 2 L soda bottles), capable of standing upright on its own while also being a pressure vessel able to retain its shape under the pressure of the carbonation. This design, typically blow-molded, requires no additionally-fastened removable base “cap” or “sleeve,” and yet still provides the needed stability and pressure-resistance for a carbonated liquid.

In the instant invention, the base region comprises a central recessed cavity, or cap-well, further comprising a central threaded rod. The central rod runs along the bottle's vertical axis. The rod need not be entirely threaded, so long as its distal end is threaded at least as long as the height of the cap's internal threads. Individual thread widths are commensurate with instant cap threads to engage said cap.

The rod is a single protrusion which therefore acts as a substantially-hidden cap holder.

The central recess-cavity formed in the bottle base has a height at least as great as the height of the cap, but ideally slightly longer for additional stability given the positioning of the central rod.

The cavity's radial circumference, in the preferred embodiment, may optionally be between about 29% and 64% of the bottle's outer circumference, but any ratio is acceptable so long as the cavity sufficiently houses the central threaded rod and the additional cap width, while also providing sufficient additional space for the user to digitally manipulate the cap inside the cavity so as to engage the rod (via screwing in the preferred embodiment).

As shown in FIG. 46, the central rod inside the base's central recess cavity has a length slightly shorter than the other four [or five] finger-humps of the base, such that the cap, when affixed to the rod's terminal threads, does not tip the bottle. The central base-rod has a length shorter than the base's central recess-cavity, such that, when screwed onto the rod, the rod-and-cap together form a fifth “leg” of the base (along with the other humps) for additional stability.

When screwed onto the base-end (threaded end) of the base-rod, the cap is securely gripped by the rod and does not project down out beyond the base plane of the bottle. In the embodiment shown, the central rod, with threaded ends for the cap, is substantially ‘one “cap top height”’ shorter than the full height of the recess-cavity itself. When screwed onto the rod, therefore, the capped-rod forms the fifth “leg” of the humped base-bottom, for perfect stability. The hump-base design is not a point of novelty of the instant invention, however, and alternate embodiments include flat plane bottoms and differently-shaped and numbered humped-bottoms.

In the preferred embodiment, the bottle is manufactured in a one-step bottle molding operation, typically blow-molded into its shaped form.

Unlike other “cap hiding” bottles, the bottom rod is herein not removably mounted. Other Figs show “stick-on” rods via adhesive, and also show “notch or ring” fastening means atop said rods, and show said rods positioned on other portions of the bottle (or show complete bottle deformation to allow for easier access to said stashing-rod).

In the instant invention, the base region comprises a central recessed cavity, or cap-well, further comprising a central threaded rod. The central rod runs along the bottle's vertical axis. The rod need not be entirely threaded, so long as its distal end is threaded at least as long as the height of the cap's internal threads. Individual thread widths are commensurate with instant cap threads to engage said cap.

The rod is a single protrusion which therefore acts as a substantially-hidden cap holder.

The central recess-cavity formed in the bottle base has a height at least as great as the height of the cap, but ideally slightly longer for additional stability given the positioning of the central rod.

The cavity's radial circumference, in the preferred embodiment, may optionally be between about 29% and 64% of the bottle's outer circumference, but any ratio is acceptable so long as the cavity sufficiently houses the central threaded rod and the additional cap width, while also providing sufficient additional space for the user to digitally manipulate the cap inside the cavity so as to engage the rod (via screwing in the preferred embodiment).

As shown in Set 1 FIG. 2, the central rod inside the base's central recess cavity has a length slightly shorter than the other four [or five] finger-humps of the base, such that the cap, when affixed to the rod's terminal threads, does not tip the bottle.

The central base-rod has a length shorter than the base's central recess-cavity, such that, when screwed onto the rod, the rod-and-cap together form a fifth “leg” of the base (along with the other humps) for additional stability.

When screwed onto the base-end (threaded end) of the base-rod, the cap is securely gripped by the rod and does not project down out beyond the base plane of the bottle. In the embodiment shown, the central rod, with threaded ends for the cap, is substantially ‘one “cap top height”’ shorter than the full height of the recess-cavity itself. When screwed onto the rod, therefore, the capped-rod forms the fifth “leg” of the humped base-bottom, for perfect stability.

The hump-base design is not a point of novelty of the instant invention, however, and alternate embodiments include flat plane bottoms and differently-shaped and numbered humped-bottoms.

In the preferred embodiment, the bottle is manufactured in a one-step bottle molding operation, typically blow-molded into its shaped form.

Unlike other “cap hiding” bottles, the bottom rod is herein not removably mounted.

Alternate embodiments show variations of the “knob with paper thin ring notch” method of securing the cap. The knob my have one or two such paper thin ring as shown. The knob may be positioned in any of the locations of the rods above infra, or may also be affixed via removable patch or recessed into cavity within the bottle in any of the above shown positions infra and supra.

In various aspects, the invention may also be described as: a capped bottle comprising a chamber in the bottle's bottom, said chamber further comprising a threaded rod tailored to receive the bottle's cap, wherein said rod is shorter than the overall height of the chamber so as not to tip the bottle; or the above invention wherein the rod's threads are rounded so they function as ribs, allowing the cap to slide atop the rod without twisting; or as the instant invention wherein the end of said rod comprises a ring-disc which functions as a notch fastener, allowing the cap to pop-on and pop-off the rod without twisting; or as the instant invention wherein the end of said rod comprises two parallel rings which function as notches, allowing the cap to pop-on and pop-off the rod without twisting; or as a capped bottle comprising a chamber in the bottle's chest, said chamber further comprising an optionally-threaded rod tailored to receive the bottle's cap; and also as the instant invention wherein the rod's threads are rounded so they function as ribs, allowing the cap to slide atop the rod without twisting; and also as the instant invention wherein the end of said rod comprises a ring-disc which functions as a notch fastener, allowing the cap to pop-on and pop-off the rod without twisting; and also as the instant invention wherein the end of said rod comprises two parallel rings which function as notches, allowing the cap to pop-on and pop-off the rod without twisting; and also as a capped bottle comprising a chamber in the bottle's belly, said chamber further comprising an optionally-threaded rod tailored to receive the bottle's cap; and also as the instant invention wherein the rod's threads are rounded so they function as ribs, allowing the cap to slide atop the rod without twisting; and also as the instant invention wherein the end of said rod comprises a ring-disc which functions as a notch fastener, allowing the cap to pop-on and pop-off the rod without twisting; and also as the instant invention wherein the end of said rod comprises two parallel rings which function as notches, allowing the cap to pop-on and pop-off the rod without twisting; and also as a capped bottle comprising two prongs positioned on the bottle's sidewall, said prongs each comprising a ring-shaped notch tailored to allow the bottle's cap to pop-on and pop-off the prongs; and also as the instant invention wherein the prongs are removable via adhesive; and also as a capped bottle comprising a protruding rod positioned on the bottle's sidewall, the tip of said rod further comprising an optional external ring which functions as a notch to allow the bottle's cap to pop-on and pop-off the rod; and also as the bottle wherein the rod's threads are rounded so they function as ribs, allowing the cap to slide atop the rod without twisting; and also as the bottle wherein the rod is affixed to the bottle's sidewall via adhesive; and also as a capped bottle comprising a protruding rod positioned on the bottle's sidewall, the tip of said rod further comprising a tab which functions as a notch to allow the bottle's cap to pop-on and pop-off the rod; and also as a capped bottle wherein the sidewall of said bottle is formed to comprise at least one notch on which the cap may removably rest; and also as a capped bottle wherein the underbelly of said bottle is formed to comprise a chamber further comprising inward-facing tabs such that the cap may be removably snapped into-and-out of said underbelly.

Further Alternative Embodiments

• • The instant invention modified to serve as a cap-hiding device for any bottle-type invention, including children's toys and cosmetics.
  • The instant invention with side-grooves to act as finger wells for cap manipulation.
  • The instant invention wherein the central rod is not threaded, but rather features a notch, groove and lip configuration formed on the exterior circumference of the rod at its distal end, to sufficiently secure said cap, and allowing removal with sufficient manual downward force.
  • The instant invention wherein the cap-grasping means is an annular finger-well formed as a radial cavity expansion around the circumference of the cap well.
  • The instant invention wherein the cap-grasping means is an annular finger-well formed as a radial cavity expansion around the circumference of the cap well.

Embodiments Generally

In the Summary above and in this Detailed Description, and the claims below, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, or a particular claim, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention.

Certain terminology and derivations thereof may be used in the following description for convenience in reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, words such as “upward,” “downward,” “left,” and “right” would refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made unless otherwise stated. Similarly, words such as “inward” and “outward” would refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of a device or area and designated parts thereof. References in the singular tense include the plural, and vice versa, unless otherwise noted.

The term “comprises” and grammatical equivalents thereof are used herein to mean that other components, ingredients, steps, among others, are optionally present. For example, an article “comprising” (or “which comprises”) components A, B and C can consist of (i.e., contain only) components A, B and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C but also contain one or more other components.

Where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where the context excludes that possibility), and the method can include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all the defined steps (except where the context excludes that possibility).

The term “at least” followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range beginning with that number (which may be a range having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). For example, “at least 1” means 1 or more than 1. The term “at most” followed by a number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, “at most 4” means 4 or less than 4, and “at most 40%” means 40% or less than 40%. When, in this specification, a range is given as “(a first number) to (a second number)” or “(a first number)-(a second number),” this means a range whose limit is the second number. For example, 25 to 100 mm means a range whose lower limit is 25 mm and upper limit is 100 mm.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35. U.S.C. § 112 ¶ 6. Specifically, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of U.S.C. § 112 ¶ 6.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21-40. (canceled)

41. A capped bottle comprising a chamber in the bottle's bottom, said chamber further comprising a threaded substantially-cylindrical rod tailored to receive the bottle's cap, wherein said rod is shorter than the overall height of the chamber so as not to tip the bottle.

42. The bottle of claim 41 wherein the rod's threads are rounded rather than standard-helical threads, so said threads function as ribs, allowing the cap to remain temporarily fixed on the rod without twisting.

43. The bottle of claim 41 wherein the tip of said rod further comprises, at its outermost end, an external ring-disc with a diameter wider than the cylindrical rod, said ring-disc therefore functioning as a notch-tab to allow the bottle's cap to pop-on and pop-off the rod.

44. The bottle of claim 41 wherein the end of said rod comprises two parallel ring-discs of equal diameter, said diameter being larger than the diameter of said rod, thereby allowing said ring-discs to function as tab-notches, allowing the cap to pop-on and pop-off the rod without twisting.

45. The bottle of claim 41, wherein said rod is affixed to the bottle's wall via

46. A capped bottle comprising a chamber in the bottle's chest, said chamber further comprising, stemming from the center of the chamber, a substantially cylindrical threaded rod tailored to receive the bottle's cap via twisting.

47. The bottle of claim 46 wherein the rod's threads are rounded so they function as ribs, allowing the cap to slide atop the rod without twisting.

48. The bottle of claim 46 wherein the end of said rod comprises a ring-disc which functions as a notch fastener, allowing the cap to pop-on and pop-off the rod without twisting.

49. The bottle of claim 46 wherein the tip-end of said rod comprises two parallel ring-discs which function as tab-notches, allowing the cap to pop-on and pop-off the rod without twisting.

50. The bottle of claim 46 wherein said rod is affixed to the bottle's sidewall via adhesive.

51. A capped bottle comprising a protruding substantially cylindrical rod positioned on the bottle's sidewall, said rod comprising a shaft and a tip, wherein the end/outermost-tip of said rod further comprises, at its outermost end, an external ring-disc whose edges have a diameter wider than the cylindrical rod, said ring therefore functioning as a notch-tab to allow the bottle's cap to pop-on and pop-off the rod.

52. The bottle of claim 51 wherein the external surface of said shaft of said rod is ribbed, allowing the cap to rest on said rod without twisting or threading.

53. The bottle of claim 51 wherein said rod is affixed to the bottle's sidewall via adhesive.