US20100116779A1

US20100116779A1 - Container having a concave circumferential collector

Info

Publication number: US20100116779A1
Application number: US12/269,061
Authority: US
Inventors: Johnathan Erez; Aryeh Erez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-11-12
Filing date: 2008-11-12
Publication date: 2010-05-13

Abstract

The subject matter discloses a container, comprising a vessel for storing a content to be stored in the container, said vessel has an outlet and a circumferential collector to collect the content drifting from the vessel. In many cases, the lower most point of the circumferential collector is located under the outlet of the vessel. The container may be a cup, wine glass, bottle, squeezable dispenser, plate and the like. The collector prevents spillage of the content of the container as part of the container. The circumferential collector is capable of containing food or accessories

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to containers in general and to containers having a collector to collect spills in particular.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Most known containers, such as bottles, glasses and other containers for storage of liquids or fluids have flat bottom. As a result, when a portion of the liquid is spilt off the container, it causes contamination and sometimes stains.
Further, in some cases, the liquid spilt off the container is wasted and cannot be reused, for example in case the fluid is any kind of soap or oil squeezed from a squeezable dispenser.
Many solutions address the spill problem by adding an extra layer of material to the container to absorb the spillage. Such extra layer does not collect the spillage and does not allow reuse of the same. Further, such extra layer as disclosed in US patent application no. 2006/0368762 of Novak, covers at least some of the content of the container at its external walls, and cannot be produced as one piece with the container because of the absorbing characteristics of the extra layer, as opposed to glass, plastics and ceramics.
Other solutions prevent spillage using lids or covers to be provided on top of the containers. Such lids are cumbersome and not allow free and intuitive use of the container when pouring and drinking by providing a barrier at the inlet or outlet of the vessel of the container.
A container that prevents spill of liquid off the container, allows reuse of the spilt liquid and does not change shape and functionality of the inlet or the vessel of the container is a long felt need.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is an object of the subject matter to disclose a container, comprising a vessel for storing a content to be stored in the container, said vessel has an outlet, a circumferential collector to collect the content drifting from the vessel wherein a lower most point of the circumferential collector is located under the outlet of the vessel.
In some embodiments, the circumferential collector is connected to a leg of the container. In some embodiments, the circumferential collector is mounted on top of a base of the container.
In some embodiments, the size of the circumferential collector is smaller than the size of the base of the container. The container may be a cup, a bottle, a plate, a dispenser having a squeezable outlet and the like.
In some embodiments, the container further comprises a secondary wall, such that the circumferential collector provides walls of more than 90 degrees.
In some embodiments, the circumferential collector cannot be removed from the container without destructing the container. In some embodiments, the upper end of the circumferential collector is located below the outlet of the container. In some embodiments, the circumferential collector is capable of containing food or accessories.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary non-limited embodiments of the disclosed subject matter will be described, with reference to the following description of the embodiments, in conjunction with the figures. The figures are generally not shown to scale and any sizes are only meant to be exemplary and not necessarily limiting. Corresponding or like elements are optionally designated by the same numerals or letters.

FIG. 1A shows two-dimensional outline of a container having a circumferential collector, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter;

FIG. 1B shows a three-dimensional outline of a container having a circumferential collector, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the subject matter;

FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional outline of a bottle having a circumferential collector, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the subject matter; and,

FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional outline of a dispenser comprising a squeeze pump having a circumferential collector, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

One technical problem addressed by the subject matter is that content poured into a vessel of a container drift at the external wall of the container to the bottom, and from there to an object holding the container, such as a table, a map and a like. This causes dirt, stains and sometimes prevents reuse of the content, especially in case the content is in contact with non-sterile surface such as the table.
One technical solution is a container having a circumferential collector residing under the outlet of the vessel of the container, to collect content of the vessel that leaks from the inlet or the outlet of the vessel. In many embodiments, such as wine glass, cup, bottle, pitcher and the like, the inlet is in fact the outlet of the vessel.
FIG. 1A shows a two-dimensional outline of a container having a circumferential collector, according to exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The container of FIG. 1A is a wine glass 100 comprises a base 130, a vessel 115 and a leg 120 connecting the vessel 115 to the base 130. The content of the wine glass 100 is poured into the vessel 115 via an inlet 110. In some cases, a portion of the content may be spilt along an external wall 110 of the vessel 115, flow downwards via the leg 120 and the base 130 to an object located beneath the container, such as a table, a map and the like. As a result, a circumferential collector 150 is provided at the bottom section of the wine glass 100 to collect the material that was not properly poured into the vessel 115. The circumferential collector 150 is provided to collect the content of the wine glass 100 when received to a section of the wine glass 100 located under the inlet of the vessel 115. Such circumferential collector 150 may be connected to the leg 120, the external wall 110 and other components of the wine glass 100 as desired by the person skilled in the art. The circumferential collector 150 contains walls such as 140, 141 that are higher than the lowest point 135 of the upper portion of the base 130. The walls 140, 141 may be provided to the entire perimeter, or at only a portion of the perimeter, and are capable of collecting the content spilled to the upper portion of the base 130, adjacent to point 135. The angle between the walls 140, 141 and the base 130 may be a sharp angle, an obtuse angle or a right angle. In some cases, one portion of the circumferential collector 150 may be at one angle off the base 130, and another portion of the circumferential collector 150 may be at another angle off the base 130.
The content of the vessel 115 may be liquid, fluid, paste, powder, oil, soap, beverages, detergents and any other content that is likely to be poured into a container such as the wine glass 100, or other containers disclosed in other embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. The uppermost portion of the walls 140, 141 may be at the external portion of the circumferential collector 150, for example at the perimeter of the base 130. In other exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the uppermost portion of the walls 140, 141 may be closer to the center of the base 130 such that the size of the inlet of the circumferential collector 150 is smaller than the size of the base 130. In some cases, the circumferential collector 150 has a non-circular shape, such as oval or polygonal shape, or a combination of the above.
In some cases, the wall 140, 141 may be provided at an angle in a range of about 20 to 90 degrees from the surface of the base 130. As a result, the content collected at the circumferential collector 150 may be spilt when the wine glass 100 is turned aside. A secondary wall 142 is then provided to extend from the walls 140, 141 to prevent leakage of the content from the circumferential collector 150. Such secondary wall 142 is likely to point to the center of the wine glass 100 or to the base 130, such that the secondary wall 142 blocks the content of the circumferential collector 150 from being spilt when the wine glass 100 is turned aside. The circumferential collector 150 may be provided at the entire perimeter of the wine glass 100, or at only a portion of the perimeter. For example, the circumferential collector 150 may be provided only at one third of the perimeter at about 120 degrees of the perimeter. Thus, the circumferential collector 150 may be provided at a general direction of pouring the content to the vessel 115 of the wine glass 100. The rules and characteristics of the circumferential collector 150 of FIG. 1A may apply to the circumferential collector of other embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.
FIG. 1B shows a three-dimensional outline of a container having a circumferential collector, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The container of FIG. 1B is generally equivalent to the wine glass 100 of FIG. 1A, and has equivalent characteristics. The wine glass 100 of FIG. 1B also contains an inlet 105, through which content is provided into the vessel 115, and a base 130. The inlet 105 functions also as the outlet of the wine glass 100. The circumferential collector 150 of the three-dimensional outline is located at the base portion of the wine glass. In other embodiments, the circumferential collector 150 may be located at the middle portion of the leg 120. The circumferential collector 150 may surround the entire perimeter of the wine glass 100. The vessel 115 and the base 130 of the wine glass 100 or of other container of the subject matter may be polygonal, elliptical or a combination of both. The circumferential collector may not reach the perimeter of the base 130, and create a collector smaller than the base of the wine glass 100. The collector of the subject matter may be the wine glass 100 or another kind of container such as for example a glass having a leg, a coffee cup, a mug glass, a cocktail glass, a snifter, a plate, a soup bowl, a flute, a highball glass, a low-ball glass, a shot glass and the like.
The circumferential collector 150 may also be used to contain food or accessory used by the user of the container such as the wine glass 100. Such food may be cookies, in case the container is a coffee mug, or olives, in case the container is a cocktail glass. Alternatively, the circumferential collector 150 may contain accessories such as tooth stick, coins, napkins or other accessories desired by a person skilled in the art. The circumferential collector 150 may also function as an ashtray. Known containers, especially cups and glasses do not provide any sub-container that allows containing additional objects, besides the content of the vessel of the container.
FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional outline of a bottle having a circumferential collector, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. Such bottle 200 according to the subject matter may also be a pitcher or jag used for storing liquid to be poured into cups, as listed above. Bottle 200 comprises an inlet 210 for pouring the liquid into a container such as wine glass 100 of FIG. 1A, and a body 220 in which the content of the bottle 200 is stored. The bottle 200 may comprise a first circumferential collector 232 located under the inlet 210 of the bottle 200. The inlet 210 also functions as the outlet of the bottle 200. Such first circumferential collector 232 creates a container under the inlet 210, to collect the liquid spilled from the bottle 200. FIG. 2 shows two additional circumferential collectors that may be an alternative or added to the to first circumferential collector 232. A second circumferential collector 234 may be located in the middle of the body 220 of the bottle 200. Alternatively, a third circumferential collector 236 may be located adjacent to the bottom portion 222 of the bottle 200.
In case any of the circumferential collectors is not provided at the entire perimeter of the bottle 200, as sown in the second circumferential collector 234, said circumferential collector 234 may be assembled of a semi circular shape, crescent, or semi elliptical shape attached to the external wall of the bottle 200. In such exemplary case, two walls 242, 244 seal the missing portion of the second circumferential collector 234.
FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional outline of a dispenser comprising a squeeze pump having a circumferential collector, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the subject matter. The container of FIG. 3 is in fact a dispenser 300. Dispenser 300 comprises a vessel 340 containing the content of the dispenser 300 and a dispensing unit 310 that functions as an outlet of the dispenser. The dispensing unit 310 is squeezable using a space 320 in the body of the dispenser 300. When the dispensing unit 310 is moved downwards, the content of the vessel 340 exits the vessel 340 via the outlet of the dispensing unit 310. A circumferential collector 330 is provided to collect spills from the outlet of the dispensing unit 310, to prevent leakage towards to an external wall 350 of the dispenser 300. The circumferential collector 330 may be oval, elliptical, circular, polygonal or a combination of the above, and is an integral portion of the container 300.
The circumferential collector is likely to be formed of the same material as the other parts of the container. The circumferential collector is made of a rigid or semi rigid material, such as glass, plastics, cardboard, metal and the like. In some cases, the upper end of the circumferential collector is lower than the outlet of the container.
Various materials, such as glass, plastics, metals, ceramics, paper or a combination of the above, may be used to produce the container or the circumferential collector of the disclosed subject matter. Such container may be produced in any method desired for a person skilled in the art, such as molding and the like. One technical advantage of the subject matter is that the container is a one-piece container used for preventing spill of the inlet or the outlet of the container, in contrast with other solutions that provide the container with another disposable circumference to absorb the spilled fluid. Further, the circumferential object of the disclosed subject matter enables collection of the spilled fluid, not just absorption, such that the absorbing element is not disposed, the fluid is not contaminated and may be reused. Further, a one-piece container enables to view the content of the container, in case the container is transparent, unlike to the absorbing circumference portion that is opaque.
While the disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosed subject matter not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but only by the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A container, comprising:

a vessel for storing a content to be stored in the container, said vessel has an outlet;

a circumferential collector to collect the content drifting from the vessel;

wherein a lower most point of the circumferential collector is located under the outlet of the vessel.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential collector is connected to a leg of the container.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential collector is mounted on top of a base of the container.

4. The container according to claim 3, wherein the size of the circumferential collector is smaller than the size of the base of the container.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container is a cup.

6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container is a bottle.

7. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises a squeezable outlet, and wherein the lower most point of the circumferential collector is located under said outlet.

8. The container according to claim 1, further comprising a secondary wall, such that the circumferential collector provides walls of more than 90 degrees.

9. The container according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential collector cannot be removed from the container without destructing the container.

10. The container according to claim 1, wherein the upper end of the circumferential collector is located below the outlet of the container.

11. The container according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential collector is capable of containing food or accessories.