AU2086500A - Liquid container with fluid retaining portion - Google Patents

Description

WO 00/40469 1 PCT/AU99/01114 Liquid container with fluid retaining portion FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed towards an improved bottle or container, and in particular a bottle containing high viscous liquids, such as shampoos and 5 glues. BACKGROUND ART At present bottles and containers are used to store and dispense a variety of liquids. Many of these liquids, such as some shampoos, glue, honey and the like, can have a high viscosity, and have a tendency to cling to the side of the 10 bottle. Generally, in order to dispense the fluid, the bottle or container is at least partially inverted. The fluid then travels along the side of the bottle or container in order to exit through the nozzle located at the top of the bottle or container. When the bottle is full this process does not normally present any problems. However, as the contents of the bottle are used up or reduced, the 15 increasing delays in extracting the fluid can be frustrating to the user. In order to overcome these problems, the user will generally attempt to store the bottle in an inverted position, to ensure the fluid is located near the nozzle exit when next used. However, the bottle is generally designed with a tapering effect towards the nozzle, making storage in an inverted position more difficult. 20 OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved bottle or container that does not suffer the same delays when attempting to extract the contents. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 25 With the above object in mind the present invention provides in one aspect a container for storing and dispensing fluid including: a body portion including a fluid retaining portion adapted to capture and store said fluid. In a further aspect the present invention provides a container for storing 30 and dispensing fluid including: a body portion; a first neck portion joined to the body portion; and an outlet port in the neck portion for expelling fluid; wherein said body portion further includes a fluid retaining portion adapted WO 00/40469 2 PCT/AU99/01114 to capture and store said fluid. Ideally, the fluid retaining portion takes the form of an annular cavity. Alternatively, the fluid retaining portion may be formed by a plurality of cavities, each of which is capable of retaining the fluid. 5 The majority of the remainder of this specification will be directed towards the use of an annular cavity for the fluid retaining portion, however, it will be understood that similar principles apply to the use of a plurality of cavities. Preferably, the annular cavity is formed by an internal flange extending from the body portion towards an internal opening, the flange dividing the body 1o portion into a lower portion and an upper portion. Ideally, the internal flange will join a second neck portion forming the internal opening. In a further embodiment the container includes a plurality of the fluid retaining portions, wherein the additional fluid retaining portion(s) are displaced 15 along the body portion. Conveniently, the flange, which need not be a flat member, may be angled towards the outlet port, to thereby assist in dispensing the fluid. It will be understood that the annular cavity need not be circular, but rather, ideally will conform to the exterior shape of the bottle or container. That is, a 20 square bottle will include an annular cavity that is also predominantly square shaped. However, the shape of the annular cavity is not important rather, the functional ability of the annular cavity to trap and store some of the fluid is important. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 25 Figures 1 a and 1 b show a first embodiment of the present invention. Figures 2a and 2b show a further embodiment of the present invention. Figures 3a and 3b show an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 shows a side view of the bottle shown in Figures 3a and 3b. 30 Figures 5a, 5b, and 5c show an alternative opening arrangement for the present invention. Figure 6 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 shows another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 is illustrative of the relative volume of the fluid retaining portion.

WO 00/40469 3 PCT/AU99/01114 DETAILED DESCRIPTION As can be seen from the figures, the present invention provides an improved bottle having an internal annular cavity (5) which is capable of trapping and storing fluid. 5 The bottle includes a body portion (12) made up of a base (2), and a side wall (1), a first neck portion (3) joined to the side wall (1) by an angled portion (11) and an outlet port (4) located in, or at the end of the first neck portion (3). These components are normal in bottles or containers although in some arrangements the bottle or container may not include a conventional first neck portion (3) or an 10 angled portion (11). That is, the bottle or container may include a base, side walls and an outlet port located in the lid of such a bottle or container. Alternatively, the bottle or container may include an angled portion which extends from the side wall to the outlet port. It will be appreciated that the shape of the bottle is not important, but rather the invention resides in the inclusion of an 15 annular cavity within the bottle adapted to trap and store fluid as it returns to the base (2) of the bottle. In use, fluid is normally retained within the side walls (1) and rests on the base (2) of the bottle. When it is desired to dispense fluid from within the bottle, the bottle is usually inverted, and the fluid allowed to run along the side walls (1), 20 neck portion (3) and out the outlet port (4) by virtue of gravity working on the fluid. In some instances the user may squeeze the bottle to assist in the dispensing of the fluid. However, with viscous liquids the fluid tends to stick to the sides of the container. This is particularly a problem when the contents of the bottle or 25 container are reduced. Under these circumstances the contents of the bottle can take some time to be dispensed. The high viscous fluids tend to stick to the side of the bottle impeding the progress of the fluid. This additional delay can be frustrating to the user. As can be seen in the figures the present invention addresses this problem 30 by further including an internal flange (6) extending from the side wall (1) towards the centre of the bottle. The flange (6) does not extend completely across the bottle, but rather an internal opening (7) is left to allow fluid to pass from the lower portion (9) of the bottle to the upper portion (8). This internal flange (6) can also be angled upwardly towards the outlet port (4) to form an annular cavity (5) WO 00/40469 4 PCT/AU99/01114 around the periphery of the side wall (1). The internal opening (7) will ideally be defined by a second neck portion (10) joined to the internal flange (6). This second neck portion (10) is essential if the internal flange (6) is not angled towards the outlet port (4). In the preferred 5 embodiment the bottle would contain an internal flange (6) angled towards the outlet port (4) and a second neck portion (10). As can be seen from Figure 3a the internal flange (6) need not be a flat member, but rather may be of varying thickness as the flange (6) extends from the wall (1). In the preferred embodiment the flange will be angled or shaped to 10 assist with the flow of the fluid from the lower portion (9) to the upper portion (8). In use, the fluid contained by the bottle would be stored in the lower portion (9) and resting on the base (2) of the bottle. When the bottle is inverted, or at least partially inverted, the fluid travels along the side wall (1) of the bottle towards the internal flange (6). Upon reaching the flange (6) the fluid then travels 15 along the flange (6), and through the internal opening (7) into the upper portion (8) of the bottle. Obviously, if the bottle includes a second neck portion (10), the fluid will pass along the walls of the second neck portion (10) prior to entering the upper portion (8). Depending on whether the internal opening (7) is located directly below the 20 outlet port (4) and on the same axis, the fluid passing through the internal opening (7) may fall directly towards the outlet port (4) and/or towards the wall of the upper portion (8) joining the body to the first neck portion (3). The fluid is then dispensed through the outlet port (4). Once the required amount of fluid has been dispensed the bottle is 25 returned to its original upright position. At this point a quantity of fluid is present in the upper portion (8) of the bottle. As the bottle is righted the fluid in the upper portion (8), attempts to return towards the base (2) of the bottle due to gravity. However, again the viscosity of the fluid causes the fluid to pass along the walls of the bottle. 30 The fluid therefore passes along the wall of the upper portion (8) until it is trapped by the annular cavity (5) formed by the internal flange (6) and second neck portion (10) (if present). The fluid is then retained in this annular cavity for future use. If the fluid in the upper portion (8) is greater then the capacity of the annular cavity (5), then the excess fluid simply overflows or passes back through WO 00/40469 5 PCT/AU99/01114 the internal opening (7) to the lower portion (9). When the bottle is used again the same process is followed with fluid in the lower portion (9) passing along the side wall (1) towards the internal opening (7) and outlet port (4). However, at the same time the fluid retained in the annular 5 cavity (5) passes along the wall of the upper portion (8) through the neck portion (3) and dispenses through the outlet port (4). It will be understood that fluid being dispensed form the internal cavity will pass through the outlet port (4) prior to any fluid stored in the lower portion (9). In this way the delays associated with dispensing fluids can be reduced. 10 The location of the annular cavity (5) about the internal periphery of the side wall (1) is important. If the annular cavity (5) was not located in this way fluid would not normally be trapped by the annular cavity (5) when the bottle is righted. That is, the annular cavity (5) is designed to take advantage of the fact that the viscous fluid tends to stick to the side wall (1) of the bottle, both when inverted 15 and when righted. Similarly, the size or volume of the annular cavity is selected to ensure that sufficient fluid is retained, such that when the bottle is inverted the fluid is dispensed without the necessity of the user to receive a first dispensed portion and then wait for further fluid to be dispensed. 20 In this regard, and referring to Figure 8, if we assume that Volume A refers to the volume or space inside the bottle and above the internal opening and neck portion, and that Volume B refers to the volume or space of the internal cavity. Then for optimum operation the bottle will be constructed such that Volume A will be equal in capacity to Volume B. That is, the volume above the internal cavity 25 (assuming the bottle is in it's normal rest position) is equal to the volume of the internal cavity. Tests have shown that the capacity of Volume A can be up to 15% larger than the capacity of Volume B, and still provide efficient operation. However, the level of efficiency decreases as the capacity of Volume A exceeds the capacity of Volume B by more than 15%. 30 As previously mentioned the fluid retaining portion need not be formed by an annular cavity. Rather, as shown in Figure 5, two cavities may be located either side of a slot (13) running the width of the container. Similarly, any number of cavities may be employed. For example 3 cavities and a star shaped slot, or 4 cavities and a cross shaped slot could be used.

WO 00/40469 6 PCT/AU99/01114 As seen in Figure 7 , each cavity may be offset from the other. Further as shown in Figure 6, a number of catchment portions displaced at varying levels may be utilised. The embodiment of Figure 6 is of particular advantage for containers of highly viscous fluid that have been substantially dispensed. In this 5 case fluid can be trapped at each level and thereby assists in timely dispensing of the remaining fluid. Such a catchment portion as disclosed by the present invention has application for both rigid bottles and containers, and also semi-rigid bottles and containers. That is, the invention will work whether or not the bottle is made of 10 compressible plastic or glass. However, it will be understood that modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are considered within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (15)

1. A container for storing and dispensing fluid including: a body portion including a fluid retaining portion adapted to capture and store said fluid.

2. A container for storing and dispensing fluid including: a body portion; a first neck portion joined to the body portion; and an outlet port in the neck portion for expelling fluid; wherein said body portion further includes a fluid retaining portion adapted to capture and store said fluid.

3. A container as claimed in any preceding claim further including a plurality of fluid retaining portions.

4. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said fluid retaining portion is an annular cavity.

5. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said fluid retaining portion is formed by a plurality of cavities, each said cavity capable of retaining the fluid.

6. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said fluid retaining portion is formed by an internal flange extending from said body portion towards an internal opening, said flange dividing said body portion into a lower portion and an upper portion and wherein said internal opening allows the passage of said fluid between said upper and lower portions.

7. A container as claimed in claim 6, wherein said internal flange joins a second neck portion forming said internal opening.

8. A container as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein said flange is angled towards said outlet port, to thereby assist in dispensing said fluid. WO 00/40469 PCT/AU99/01114

9. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said fluid retaining portion conforms to the exterior shape of the container.

10. A container as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the volume of the container above said internal opening is equal to the volume of said fluid retaining portion.

11. A container as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the volume of the container above said internal opening is up to 15% greater then the volume of said fluid retaining portion.

12. A container as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 11 wherein said outlet port and said internal opening are coaxial.

13. A container as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein said internal opening is a slot extending the width of the container.

14. A container as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 13, wherein said flange is shaped so as to assist in the dispensing of said fluid.

15. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.