US20080179270A1

US20080179270A1 - Multiple Pivoting Flask

Info

Publication number: US20080179270A1
Application number: US11/910,218
Authority: US
Inventors: Thierry Thibaut
Original assignee: FORUS CONCEPTS TECHNOLOGIQUES
Current assignee: FORUS CONCEPTS TECHNOLOGIQUES
Priority date: 2005-03-31
Filing date: 2006-03-30
Publication date: 2008-07-31
Also published as: FR2883841A1; EP1868901A1; CA2648002A1; FR2883841B1; WO2006103349A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a device comprising a combination: of at least two individual flasks or containers (1, 2) mutually linked by all or part of their undersides (3), and of a removable fixing system (4) essentially comprising a suction cup and/or a rod (6) provided with a hook, while one of said flasks comprises in said underside a cavity which, alone or in combination with a similar cavity located on the underside of another flask of said combination of flasks, defines a recessed space wherein the head of said suction cup and/or said rod provided with a hook can penetrate and remain force- or spring-locked, with the possibility of being eventually rotated and separated by a simple manual effort.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns the subject of flasks and, in particular, flasks for pourable products such as, for example, body care liquids, cleaning products, food preparation products and other items.
It is well known that in everyday life, there is a need for various flasks or other receptacles containing different products at the same time and place. Thus, for example, one can use a scent and a shampoo or a hair conditioner in a bathroom, a liquid soap and an air freshener in lavatories, an oil or vinegar or various oils in the kitchen, etc.
Usually, it is then necessary to have separate flasks available, which it is convenient to place on a horizontal surface and line up after their use. There are also oil or vinegar dispensers, consisting of twin receptacles, having double bottoms in the same plane and situated on the same side of that plane with spouts facing in opposite directions in order to be used by turns. There are also batteries of flasks, arranged vertically on a horizontal tray, possibly serving as sprinkler; in that case, the individual flasks are simply placed against one another and, in order to use them, it is necessary to extract from the assembly and handle the one it is desired to use case by case.
According to that state of the art, there were no easily transportable flasks available.
It then appeared useful to provide groups of flasks arranged so that said group would be readily transportable and easily usable anywhere they may have thus been transported.
There was also a need for sets of flasks capable of ensuring saving space for use particularly in small bathrooms or in kitchen nooks or kitchenettes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention makes it possible to introduce solutions to those expectations and to provide multiple flasks capable of responding to those objectives as well as others, which will be apparent in light of the following description, accompanying drawings and attached claims.
The present invention is, consequently, intended to provide a set of flasks separately usable, as needed, and easy to transport and install anywhere.
Another object of the invention was to provide easy-to-handle sets of flasks.
Still another object of the present invention was to supply in a reduced space a group of flasks that can be conveniently used without waste of time or tedious handling.
The object of the invention is thus a device comprising a combination of individual flasks capable of being fastened to a support and of placing each flask, as needed, in pouring position by gravity after opening.
The device of the invention thus comprises, according to a first aspect, a combination:
of at least two individual flasks or containers linked to one another by all or part of their undersides, and
of a removable fastening system essentially comprising a suction cup and/or a rod equipped with a hook, while each of said flasks contains in said underside a cavity which, alone or in combination with a similar cavity situated on the underside of another flask of said combination of flasks, defines a hollow space in which the head of said suction cup and/or of said rod equipped with a hook can penetrate and be force-fitted or locked in place, with the capacity of being possibly rotated and separated by a simple manual effort.
To simplify the specification, the expressions “flasks” or “containers” will be used below without distinction and can be entirely substituted for one another. In other words, these expressions are to be taken in the broadest sense and are in no way to be considered strictly limited to flasks. They are, therefore, to be considered as being applied interchangeably to any type of closed receptacle or closed container provided with an opening and a closure of same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will be best understood and other objects, advantages and characteristics of same will be more clearly apparent in light of the detailed description below of preferred embodiments, given purely by way of illustration and not at all limitative, while plates of drawings are attached to said description, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically represents a device according to the invention in front view with two flasks placed side by side, respectively closed (FIG. 1A) and with the lower flask open and a flow of liquid (FIG. 1B);

FIG. 2 schematically represents in side face view a device according to FIG. 1, with the flasks closed (FIG. 2A) or both open (FIG. 2B);

FIG. 3 schematically represents a variant of a device according to the invention in front view with two flasks placed side by side, while the flask situated in lower position is open;

FIG. 4 schematically represents in side face view a device according to FIG. 3, turned 45° in the direction of the downward arrow and with the two flasks open;

FIG. 5 schematically represents another variant of a device according to the invention in front view with two flasks placed side by side, while the flask situated in lower position is open;

FIG. 6 schematically represents in side face view a device according to FIG. 5, with the two flasks open;

FIG. 7 represents an assembly of suction cup and rod with hook used according to the invention in a single piece form (FIG. 7A) and, in a variant, consisting of two interlocked parts (FIG. 7B);

FIG. 8 represents in schematic section, front view (FIG. 8A) and side face view (FIG. 8B), an embodiment of a combination of two flasks forming part of a device according to the invention, with the two flasks open and slight separated from each other before gluing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings thus briefly described, the device containing a multiple pivoting flask and attachable for the distribution of pourable products according to the invention comprises, in its aspect integrating all of the means indicated above, a device containing a combination:
of at least two individual flasks or containers 1, 2 linked to one another by all or part of their undersides 3, and
of a removable fastening system 4 essentially comprising a suction cup 5 and/or a rod 6 equipped with a hook 7, while each of said flasks contains in said underside a cavity 8 which, alone or in combination with a similar cavity 8′ situated on the underside of another flask of said combination of flasks, defines a hollow space in which the head 9 of said suction cup and/or of said rod equipped with a hook can penetrate and be force-fitted or locked in place, with the capacity of being possibly rotated and separated by a simple manual effort.
The invention also concerns a multiple flask for the creation of such a device, said multiple flask being composed of at least two flasks 1, 2. each of which is linked to at least one other flask by all or part of their respective undersides 3.
In a preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention contains two flasks 1, 2. That device can, however, contain more than two flasks, for example, three or more, advantageously evenly distributed around a perpendicular axis on the mid-plane of their combination and passing through the center of the figure defined by their respective undersides, which corresponds to a star shape with n branches, where n is the number of flasks.
According to the present invention, a multiple flask is understood to be a combination of complete individual flasks as well as a flask shaped to present several compartments disposed and oriented in relation to one another to satisfy the characteristics of the object defined here.
The flasks 1, 2 are made of any material, preferably rigid, semi-rigid or pliable plastic, for pouring of the product out of the flask concerned can then be favored by exerting pressure on the latter. Appropriate materials are, among others, polyethylene (notably, PEHD), polypropylene, PVC, PVDC, etc.
The method of gluing or welding the flasks to each other depends on their material and can be chosen among the appropriate methods known to the expert, if need be, after prior tests.
The suction cup 5 and/or the rod 6 equipped with a hook 7 are advantageously made of pliable or semi-rigid plastic, such as PVC, or an elastomer chosen among those known to the expert. The assembly of suction cup and/or rod and hook constitutes a fastening member, intended for fastening the device according to the invention on a wall, preferably a vertical wall, and/or by suspension by means of said hook (in practice, but not exclusively, to a pipe, a faucet, a radiator, a soap dish, a horizontal bar, such as those intended for hanging shower curtains). Equivalent hanging possibilities can be found for kitchen applications.
The rod 6 and the hook 7 can be made in the same piece as the suction cup 5. In a variant, the rod 6 and its hook 7 can be independent of the suction cup 5 and be interlocked with the latter around the head 9 of said suction cup. In that case, the rod and the hook can be made of metal or plastic.
According to the invention, the flasks or containers concerned are advantageously symmetrical in relation to the axis of the suction cup 5 on which they are fastened.
In practice, each flask is equipped with a cover, advantageously joined to the flask by a hinge such as a flexible trip hinge or other hermetic sealing member, which can be opened or closed in the traditional way by an appropriate action of the user.
The distribution of product from the flask that the user has opened after having pivoted it to bring its pour opening into low position is made downward by gravity and/or by pressure on said open flask.
The pourable products concerned can be chosen at convenience among pure or appreciably pure products, solutions in water and/or in a solvent, notably an alcoholic solvent, suspensions, water in oil emulsions, oil in water emulsions, microemulsions, suspensions, powders, fluid pastes and others.
The expert knows how to adapt the dimensions of the flask opening to the product to be poured and to the desired rate of pouring case by case.
As the attached figures show, particularly FIG. 8, the flasks of the device according to the invention advantageously each contain a cavity fraction, in practice a half-cavity 8, which is completed to form a whole cavity by a cavity fraction 8′ of the flask side-by-side with the previous one. In the case of two side-by-side flasks, the two cavity fractions 8, 8′ are preferably both half-cavities. The said cavity 8, 8′ thus formed is provided in a dimension suitable for receiving the head 9 of the suction cup 5 and/or the end of the rod 6 opposite the hook 7.
In a variant, that cavity 8, 8′ can receive an extra part fastened with free rotation on the head 9 of the suction cup 5 and/or at the end of the rod 6 opposite the one carrying the hook 7, said extra part (not represented) being adapted so that it can be inserted in the n-1 cavities defined by the n flasks joined together at their base. Such a part can, for example, have a star configuration with dovetail elements at the ends of its branches, the said elements dovetailed or having any other appropriate shape being intended to be inserted in the said n-1 cavities.
The depth of said cavities must, in practice, be at least equal to the axial dimensions of the head 9 of the suction cup 6 or of the end of the rod 6 intended to enter such a cavity 8, 8′.
In a preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention contains half- cavities 8, 8′ with protruding edges and a suction cup 5, the head 9 of which has a noncircular configuration, in order to serve as an abutment against said protruding edges provided inside the half- cavities 8, 8′.
In a preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention contains a head 9 of the suction cup 5 equipped, on its sides, with appreciably symmetrical protruding edges and cavities 8, 8′ containing locations forming grooves or notches suitably positioned so that said protruding edges of the suction cup 5 can be lodged there.
In the two embodiments mentioned above, the device according to the invention thus advantageously contains a means producing a locking or escapement effect (but, in that case, with a preferential direction of rotation) in order to avoid a totally free rotation of the flasks, which could be undesirable, if it is induced by an imbalance due to substantial weight differences between the flasks, notably, after preferential use of the contents of one of the flasks more than that of the other or others.
In addition, according to another embodiment, it is advantageous for the flask 5 to contain on its outer surface at least one protuberance (not represented), such as, for example, “studs” made or preferably emanating from the same material on stripping; in case of a plurality, those protuberances are preferably arranged in a line or arc and are intended to serve as abutment for the low flask from which product is removed, so that said product removal operation does not entail a tipping of said flask and, by entrainment effect, of the diametrically opposite flask or flasks, and so that a lateral stress on suction cup head 9 which might have caused separation of the suction cup 5 is thus avoided. Said protuberances can be of any shape, cone, truncated cone and truncated pyramid shape, among others. Said protuberances are advantageously distributed in a line or arc on at least one circular sector of the upper surface of the suction cup 5, preferably on at least one such circular sector situated on the side of said suction cup surface opposite the rod 6 equipped with the hook 7, or in a variant, on the same side as the latter or both sides. The height of said protuberances in the plane perpendicular to the mid-plane of the suction cup is advantageously such that the flasks concerned can abut at least one protuberance and can thus roughly maintain their verticality.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A device comprising, in combination

(a) a flask assembly comprising at least two individual flasks (1, 2) linked to one another by all or part of their undersides (3) or a multiple flask consisting of a flask shaped to present at least two compartments, and

(b) a removable fastening system (4) comprising a suction cup (5) and/or a rod (6) equipped with a hook (7) and a head (9) disposed on the suction cup or rod for pivoting attachment of the fastening system to the flask assembly,

wherein each of said flasks contains in said underside a cavity (8) which, alone or in combination with a similar cavity (8) situated on the underside of another flask of said combination of flasks, defines a hollow space in which the head (9) is rotatably received to form the flask assembly and fastening system into a combination device.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the flask assembly contains two individual flasks (1, 2).

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the flask assembly comprises more than two flasks, distributed around a perpendicular axis on the mid-plane of their combination and passing through the center of the figure defined by their respective undersides, according to a star arrangement with n branches, where n is the number of flasks.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the flasks are made of pliable plastic.

21. The device of claim 17, wherein the fastening assembly comprises both a suction cup and a rod and a hook, and wherein the rod and the hook are made in one piece with the suction cup.

22. The device of claim 17, wherein the fastening assembly comprises both a suction cup and a rod and a hook, and wherein the rod and the hook are made independent of the suction cup and are interlocked with the latter to form the fastening system

23. The device of claim 17, wherein the removable fastening system comprises a suction cup to which the flask assembly is fastened and the flasks are symmetrical in relation to the axis of the suction cup (5) on which they are fastened.

24. The device of claim 17, wherein the flasks each contain a cavity fraction (8), which is completed to form a whole cavity by a cavity fraction (8) of the flask disposed side by side with a previous one.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein said cavity (8, 8) thus formed is capable of receiving the head (9) of the suction cup (5) or rod (6).

26. The device of claim 24, wherein the cavity (8, 8) is capable of receiving an extra part fastened with free rotation on the head (9) of the suction cup (5) or rod (6), said extra part being adapted so that it can be inserted in the n-1 cavities defined by the n flasks joined together at their base.

27. The device of claim 24, wherein the depth of said cavity fractions at least equal to the axial dimension of the head (9) of the suction cup (5) or the rod (6) intended to enter such cavity (8, 8′).

28. The device of claim 24, wherein the cavity fractions (8, 8′) are provided with protruding edges, while the head (9) of the suction cup (5) has a noncircular configuration.

29. The device of claim 24, wherein the head (9) of the suction cup (5) is provided on its sides with appreciably symmetrical protruding edges, and the cavity fractions (8, 8′) contain grooves or notches positioned so that said protruding edges of said suction cup head can be lodged there.

30. The device of claim 24, wherein the cavity fraction is a half-cavity.

31. The device of claim 17, wherein the fastening system comprises and suction cup and the suction cup (5) contains on its outer surface at least one protuberance to serve as abutment for the flask assembly.

32. A flask assembly comprising at least two individual flasks (1, 2) linked to one another by all or part of their undersides (3), each of said flasks having an opening for dispensing a pourable product, said openings being disposed symmetrically opposite one another remote from the linked undersides, and wherein each of said flasks has an underside cavity which alone or in combination with a similar cavity (8′) situated on the underside of another flask of said combination of flasks, defines a hollow space open to the exterior of the flask assembly.

33. The flask assembly of claim 32, wherein the assembly contains only two flasks.