GB2461034A

GB2461034A - Bottle holder

Info

Publication number: GB2461034A
Application number: GB0811045A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Basem Halwani
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-06-17
Filing date: 2008-06-17
Publication date: 2009-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 2028-06-17
Also published as: GB2461034B; GB0811045D0

Abstract

A bottle holder 1 for holding a bottle 18 to assist a person in pouring liquid from the bottle. The bottle holder has a base 2 and a snap-fit attachment 15 which extend from one side of a support member 4. A handle 10 extends from the other side of the support member. A bottle is inserted into the bottle holder by resting the underside of the bottle on the base and then tilting the bottle so that the neck of the bottle attaches to the snap-fit attachment with a snap-fit engagement.

Description

ABOTTLE HOLDER

Descrirtion of Invention The present invention relates to a bottle holder, and more particularly relates to a bottle holder for holding a bottle and assisting a person in pouring liquid from the bottle.

Conventional plastic bottles are usually made of thin plastic which deforms easily when gripped by the hand of a user. The problem is exacerbated for larger bottles of volume greater than 1.5 litres. A conventional plastic bottle of this kind can deform when the bottle is tipped because the weight of liquid within the bottle can act on the bottle when the bottle is tilted, causing the bottle to deform about the hands of a person holding the bottle. The bottle can be difficult to hold when the bottle deforms in this way, making it difficult for the user to pour liquid carefully from the bottle. In some cases, the distortion of the bottle as the walls of the bottle deform may result in the user losing their grip on the bottle completely and then dropping the bottle.

It has been proposed previously to provide a holder for a bottle which incorporates a handle. The handle allows the holder to be held securely by a user and allows the user to tilt a bottle in the holder without risk of the bottle distorting. Such conventional bottle holders are, however, problematic because they are either inconvenient to use or are ineffective at holding a bottle securely.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved bottle holder.

According to the present invention, there is provided a bottle holder comprising: an elongate support member; base connected to one end of the support member, the base being configured to hold a base of a bottle; and a snap-fit attachment connected to the other end of the support member, the snap-fit attachment being configured to releasably attach with a snap-fit engagement onto part of the neck of the bottle, when the bottle is held on the base; the holder being configured to receive the base of the bottle at an angle relative to the support member, the bottle then being pivotable through that angle to move part of the neck of the bottle into engagement and attachment to the snap-fit attachment.

Preferably a handle is connected to a middle portion of the support member.

Conveniently the handle is located on one side of the elongate support member and the snap-fit attachment has an opening to receive a part of the bottle, the snap-fit attachment being located on the other side of the elongate support member, with the opening facing away from the handle.

Advantageously the holder further comprises a side wall which is connected to the support member adjacent to the base, the side wall at least partly surrounding a region above the base so that the wall at least partly surrounds a lower part of a bottle when the bottle is held on the base.

Preferably the side wall is generally cylindrical in shape.

Conveniently the support member is curved about its longitudinal axis such that the support member extends partly around a portion of a cylindrical bottle when the bottle is held on the base.

Conveniently the support member and the side wall are integral with one another and are each formed from parts of a cylindrically shaped element.

Advantageously the holder further comprises a blocking element which extends upwardly from the surface of the base and/or radially inwardly from the side wall to block movement of part of a bottle held on the base to minimise rotation of the bottle relative to the base.

Preferably the snap-fit attachment is a generally planar rectangular element, the end of the snap-fit attachment remote from the support member being provided with a generally C-shaped cutaway region which is configured to receive part of the neck of a bottle, the ends of the cutaway region being resilient and inwardly directed so that the ends deform and fit around the neck of a bottle when the neck of the bottle is pushed into the cutaway region to retain the bottle in the cutaway region with a snap-fit.

In one embodiment the snap-fit attachment is formed integrally with the support member.

In another embodiment the snap-fit attachment is a separate component which is mounted to the support member.

In one embodiment the holder is provided in combination with a bottle which has an outwardly directed lip extending around the neck of the bottle, and part of the neck of the bottle adjacent the lip is received within the cutaway region to attach the bottle to the snap-fit attachment with a snap-fit engagement.

In another embodiment the holder is provided in combination with a bottle which has an outwardly directed lip extending around the neck of the bottle, and the lip is received within the cut-away region to attach the bottle to the snap-fit attachment with a snap-fit engagement.

Preferably the height of the side wall from the top of the base at the part of the side wall which is furthest from the support member is less than half the distance between the snap-fit attachment and the top of the base.

Conveniently the height of the side wall from the top of the base at the part of the side wall which is furthest from the support member is less than a quarter of the distance between the snap-fit attachment and the top of the base.

Preferably the holder is provided in combination with one bottle held in the holder and one or more other bottles packaged with the held bottle.

Conveniently the holder has a handle which lies against one or more of the other bottles packaged with the held bottle.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a bottle holder in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is diagrammatic top view of the bottle holder of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side view of the bottle holder of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a further side view of the bottle holder of Figure 1, Figure 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a bottle holder in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, Figure 6 is a diagrammatic side view of the bottle holder of Figure 5, Figure 7 is a further diagrammatic side view of the bottle holder of Figure 5, and Figure 8 is a diagrammatic top view of a multi-pack of bottles which is packaged with the bottle holder of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring initially to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, a bottle holder 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention incorporates a planar circular base 2. The base 2 is configured to carry a bottle when a bottle is held in the bottle holder 1. The diameter of the base 2 is selected to be slightly larger than the diameter of a bottle which is to be held in the bottle holder 1. In this preferred embodiment, the diameter of the base is 13mm which is slightly larger than the diameter of a commonly available 2 litre bottle for storing beverages. It is, however, to be appreciated that the size and shape of the base can vary in other embodiments of the invention to match the size and shape of other types of bottle which can be held in the bottle holder 1.

The bottle holder 1 incorporates a support structure 3 which comprises an elongate support member 4 and a side wall 5. The support member 4 and the side wall 5 are formed integrally with one another with the side wall 5 being connected to a lower end of the support member 4. The bottom end of the support member 4 and the lower edge of the side wall 5 are connected to the base 2.

The side wall 5 defines a hollow cylindrical shape. The side wall fits around the circumference of the base 2 and surrounds a region of space above the base 2. The height of the side wall 5 from the base 2 varies along the length of the side wall 5. The height of the side wall 5 is smallest at a lowest point 6 which is the point of the wall 5 which is diametrically opposite and furthest from the support member 4. The height of the side wall 5 curves upwardly from each side of the lowest point 6 to where the side wall 5 merges into the support member 4. In other embodiments, however, the height of the side wall 5 may be constant along the length of the side wall 5.

The side wall 5 is provided with a plurality of round-cornered rectangular apertures 7 along its length. The apertures 7 are provided for aesthetic reasons, to reduce the weight of the side wall 5 and to reduce the amount of material needed to construct the side wall 5. In other embodiments, however, the side wall 5 may be provided with a greater or fewer number of apertures 7 and in some embodiments the apertures 7 may be omitted entirely.

A blocking element in the form of a curved planar tab 8 is attached to the base 2 and to the lower end of the support member 4 where the support member 4 meets the base 2. The tab 8 extends upwardly from the top surface of the base 2. The tab 8 is configured to engage part of a bottle which is carried on the base 2. The function of the tab 8 will become clear from the description below. The tab 8 may also be attached to and extend radially inwardly from the side wall 5.

The support member 4 is formed from an elongate element which is curved about its central longitudinal axis. The curve of the support member 4 matches the curve of the side wall 5 so that the support member 4 and the side waIl 5 together effectively define regions of a hollow cylindrical shape.

The cylindrical shape is selected to match the cylindrical shape of a bottle which is to be held in the bottle holder 1.

The base 2 extends outwardly from a first side 9 of the support member 4 at a lower end of the support member 4. An elongate U-shaped handle 10 is mounted to a second side 11 of a middle portion of the support member 4.

The second side 11 of the support member 4 is the opposite side of the support member 4 to the first side 9. The elongate handle 10 extends perpendicularly away from the support member 4 in an opposite direction to the direction in which the base 2 extends from the support member 4.

A small handle 12 is mounted to the second side 11 of the support member 4 above the elongate handle 10. The small handle 12 is provided so that the bottle holder 1 may be hung up when not in use or may be carried by a person's finger in a comfortable manner when the bottle holder 1 is not being used to pour liquid from a bottle. The elongate handle 10 is the handle which is used when tilting the bottle holder 1 to pour liquid from a bottle held within the bottle holder 1.

The upper end of the support member 4 curves inwardly from its first side 9 to define a generally planar rectangular element 13. The rectangular element 13 is formed integrally with the support member 4. The rectangular element 13 extends outwardly from the top end of the support member 4, away from the first side 9 of the support member 4. The free end of the rectangular element 13 is provided with a generally C-shaped cut-away region 14 which defines an opening to receive part of a bottle. The rectangular element 13 and the C-shaped cut-away region 14 together define a snap-fit attachment 15 which is configured to attach to part of the neck of a bottle. The snap-fit attachment 15 is located on the opposite side of the support member 4 to the handle 10, and the C-shaped cut-away region 14 faces away from the handle.

The parts of the rectangular element 13 on each side of the cut-away region 14 are resiliently deformable and configured to deform when the neck of a bottle is pushed against the inwardly directed protrusions 16. The inwardly directed protrusions 16 move as the parts of the rectangular element 13 deform to allow the neck of a bottle to move into the cut-away region 14.

Once the neck of the bottle has moved into the cut-away region 14 the inwardly directed protrusions 16 return to their original position and retain the neck of the bottle within the cut-away region 14 with a snap-fit engagement.

The bottle holder 1 of this preferred embodiment is configured such that the snap-fit attachment 15 attaches to a narrow part 17 of the neck of a bottle 18, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The narrow part 17 of the neck of the bottle 18 is positioned adjacent and below an outwardly extending lip 19 which extends radially outwardly around the neck of the bottle 18.

In this preferred embodiment, the length of the support member 4 and the height of the side wall 5 at the lowest point 6 are selected so that the height of the side wall 5 at the lowest point 6 from the top of the base 2 is approximately 7 times less than the distance between the snap-fit attachment and the top of the base 2. In other embodiments, the height of the side wall 5 at the lowest point 6 may be less than half or less than a quarter of the distance between the snap-fit attachment 15 and the top of the base 2.

The difference in height between the side wall 5 and the snap-fit attachment from the base 2 presents an open space between the top of the side wall 5 and the snap-fit attachment 15 at the front of the bottle holder 1. The open space allows the bottle holder 1 to be front-loaded with a bottle by first resting the base of the bottle on the base 2 with the bottle being received on the base 2 at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the support member.

The bottle can then be pivoted through that angle to move part of the neck of the bottle directly into engagement with and attachment to the snap-fit attachment 15. This allows a bottle to be attached easily within the holder by carrying out a simple and fluid "tilt and click" operation.

The simple operation of embodiments of the invention is an improvement over prior art bottle holders in which several steps are required to insert a bottle into a holder and then to attach the bottle to part of the holder.

In embodiments of the invention, the snap-fit attachment 15 attaches to the neck of a bottle with a snap-fit engagement. The snap-fit engagement retains the neck of the bottle within the snap-fit attachment 15 with a positive engagement force which holds the bottle securely within the bottle holder 1.

This is an improvement over conventional bottle holders which cannot retain a bottle securely.

When a bottle such as the bottle 18 as shown in Figure 4 is held within the bottle holder 1, the blocking tab 8 extends between an indented portion 20 of the bottle 18. The tab 8 prevents the bottle 18 from rotating relative to the base 20 by acting on the parts of the bottle 18 adjacent the indented portion 20. The blocking function of the tab 8 prevents the bottle 18 from rotating within the bottle holder 1 when a cap (not shown) is screwed on or off the top of the bottle 18. This allows a user to attach or remove a screw cap whilst only holding the elongate handle 10. The user does not have to grip the walls of the bottle 18 to stop the bottle 18 from rotating relative to the bottle holder 1. Therefore, the risk of a user gripping and distorting the walls of the bottle 18 when attaching or removing a screw cap are minimised.

Referring now to Figures 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings, a bottle holder 21 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention has the same general structure as the bottle holder 1 described above. Most parts of the bottle holder 21 of this other embodiment are identical to the parts of the bottle holder 1 described above and will be described using the same reference numerals as those used above.

The bottle holder 21 of this other embodiment is identical to the bottle holder 1 described above except that the bottle holder 21 of this other embodiment has a modified snap-fit attachment 22. The snap-fit attachment 22 is formed from a part of the support member 4 which is thicker than the rest of the support member 4. The snap-fit attachment 22 still incorporates a C-shaped cut-away region 23 and inwardly directed protrusions 24.

The snap-fit attachment 22 of this other embodiment is configured to attach to a lip 25 which extends radially around the neck of a bottle 26, as shown in Figures 6 and 7. The lip 25 of the bottle 26 can be pushed into the snap-fit attachment 22 to deform parts of the snap-fit attachment 22 and then to be retained within the cut-away region 23 with a snap-fit engagement in the same manner described above for attaching a bottle to the bottle holder 1 of the preferred embodiment.

The snap-fit attachment 22 of the bottle holder 21 of this other embodiment attaches to the lip 25 of the bottle 26 rather than to part of the neck of the bottle 26 adjacent the lip 25 because the lip 25 is more rigid than the rest of the neck of the bottle 26. The rigid nature of the lip 25 provides a relatively strong structure to which the snap-fit attachment 22 can be attached to retain a bottle securely within the holder 21.

In a further embodiment, the snap-fit attachment 22 is formed from a clip which is initially separate from the support member 4 but which is attached to the support member 4 during assembly of the bottle holder 21.

The bottle holder 1 of embodiments of the invention can be packaged with a multi-pack of bottles 27 as shown in Figure 8. One bottle in the pack 27 is sleeved in the holder 1 and the handle 10 is located in an interstitial space formed between the bottles. The handle 10 lies against one or more of the other bottles packaged with the bottle that is held in the holder 1.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

Claims: 1. A bottle holder comprising: an elongate support member; a base connected to one end of the support member, the base being configured to hold a base of a bottle; and a snap-fit attachment connected to the other end of the support member, the snap-fit attachment being configured to releasably attach with a snap-fit engagement onto part of the neck of the bottle, when the bottle is held on the base; the holder being configured to receive the base of the bottle at an angle relative to the support member, the bottle then being pivotable through that angle to move part of the neck of the bottle into engagement and attachment to the snap-fit attachment.
2. A holder according to claim 1, wherein a handle is connected to a middle portion of the support member.
3. A holder according to claim 2, wherein the handle is located on one side of the elongate support member and the snap-fit attachment has an opening to receive a part of the bottle, the snap-fit attachment being located on the other side of the elongate support member, with the opening facing away from the handle.
4. A holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holder further comprises a side wall which is connected to the support member adjacent to the base, the side wall at least partly surrounding a region above the base so that the wall at least partly surrounds a lower part of a bottle when the bottle is held on the base.
5. A holder according to claim 4, wherein the side wall is generally cylindrical in shape.
6. A holder according to claim 5, wherein the support member is curved about its longitudinal axis such that the support member extends partly around a portion of a cylindrical bottle when the bottle is held on the base.
7. A holder according to claim 6, wherein the support member and the side wall are integral with one another and are each formed from parts of a cylindrically shaped element.
8. A holder according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the holder further comprises a blocking element which extends upwardly from the surface of the base and/or radially inwardly from the side wall to block movement of part of a bottle held on the base to minimise rotation of the bottle relative to the base.
9. A holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the snap-fit attachment is a generally planar rectangular element, the end of the snap-fit attachment remote from the support member being provided with a generally C-shaped cutaway region which is configured to receive part of the neck of a bottle, the ends of the cutaway region being resilient and inwardly directed so that the ends deform and fit around the neck of a bottle when the neck of the bottle is pushed into the cutaway region to retain the bottle in the cutaway region with a snap-fit.
10. A holder according to claim 9, wherein the snap-fit attachment is formed integrally with the support member.
11. A holder according to claim 9, wherein the snap-fit attachment is a separate component which is mounted to the support member.
12. A holder according to any one of claims 9 to 11 provided in combination with a bottle which has an outwardly directed lip extending around the neck of the bottle, wherein part of the neck of the bottle adjacent the lip is received within the cutaway region to attach the bottle to the snap-fit attachment with a snap-fit engagement.
13. A holder according to any one of claims 9 to 12 provided in combination with a bottle which has an outwardly directed lip extending around the neck of the bottle, wherein the lip is received within the cut-away region to attach the bottle to the snap-fit attachment with a snap-fit engagement.
14. A holder according to any one of claims 4 to 13, wherein the height of the side wall from the top of the base at the part of the side wall which is furthest from the support member is less than half the distance between the snap-fit attachment and the top of the base.
15. A holder according to any one of claims 4 to 13, wherein the height of the side wall from the top of the base at the part of the side wall which is furthest from the support member is less than a quarter of the distance between the snap-fit attachment and the top of the base.
16. A holder according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with one bottle held in the holder and one or more other bottles packaged with the held bottle.
17. A holder according to claim 16, wherein the holder has a handle which lies against one or more of the other bottles packaged with the held bottle.
18. A holder substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 4 and Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.
15. A holder substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.
20. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows: Claims: 1. A bottle holder comprising: an elongate support member; a base connected to one end of the support member, the base being configured to hold a base of a bottle; a side wall which is connected to the support member and the base and which at least partly surrounds a region above the base so that the wall at least partly surrounds a lower part of a bottle when the bottle is held on the base, the top of the side wall curving upwardly from each side of a lowest point which is furthest from the support member to where the side wall connects with the support member; and 0) a snap-fit attachment connected to the other end of the support member, the snap-fit attachment being configured to releasably attach with a snap-fit engagement onto part of the neck of the bottle, when the bottle is held on the base; the snap-fit attachment being spaced apart from the top of the side wall to define an open space at the front of the holder to receive a bottle so that the base of the bottle is received on the base of the holder at an angle relative to the support member, the bottle then being pivotable through that angle to move part of the neck of the bottle into engagement and attachment to the snap-fit attachment.2. A holder according to claim 1, wherein a handle is connected to a middle portion of the support member.3. A holder according to claim 2, wherein the handle is located on one side of the elongate support member and the snap-fit attachment has an opening to receive a part of the bottle, the snap-fit attachment being located on the other side of the elongate support member, with the opening facing away from the handle.4. A holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the side wall is generally cylindrical in shape.5. A holder according to claim 4, wherein the support member is curved about its longitudinal axis such that the support member extends partly around a portion of a cylindrical bottle when the bottle is held on the base.6. A holder according to claim 5, wherein the support member and the side wall are integral with one another and are each formed from parts of a cylindrically shaped element.7. A holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the Q holder further comprises a blocking element which extends upwardly from the surface of the base and/or radially inwardly from the side wall to block 0 movement of part of a bottle held on the base to minimise rotation of the bottle relative to the base.8. A holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the snap-fit attachment is a generally planar rectangular element, the end of the snap-fit attachment remote from the support member being provided with a generally C-shaped cutaway region which is configured to receive part of the neck of a bottle, the ends of the cutaway region being resilient and inwardly directed so that the ends deform and fit around the neck of a bottle when the neck of the bottle is pushed into the cutaway region to retain the bottle in the cutaway region with a snap-fit.9. A holder according to claim 8, wherein the snap-fit attachment is formed integrally with the support member.10. A holder according to claim 8, wherein the snap-fit attachment is a separate component which is mounted to the support member.11. A holder according to any one of claims 8 to 10 provided in combination with a bottle which has an outwardly directed lip extending around the neck of the bottle, wherein part of the neck of the bottle adjacent the lip is received within the cutaway region to attach the bottle to the snap-fit attachment with a snap-fit engagement.12. A holder according to any one of claims 8 to 11 provided in combination with a bottle which has an outwardly directed lip extending around the neck of the bottle, wherein the lip is received within the cut-away Q region to attach the bottle to the snap-fit attachment with a snap-fit engagement.13. A holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the height of the side wall from the top of the base at the part of the side wall which is furthest from the support member is less than half the distance between the snap-fit attachment and the top of the base.14. A holder according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the height of the side wall from the top of the base at the part of the side wall which is furthest from the support member is less than a quarter of the distance between the snap-fit attachment and the top of the base.15. A holder according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with one bottle held in the holder and one or more other bottles packaged with the held bottle.16. A holder according to claim 15, wherein the holder has a handle which lies against one or more of the other bottles packaged with the held bottle.17. A holder substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 4 and Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.18. A holder substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings. a)