US20100329770A1

US20100329770A1 - Nail Polish Bottle

Info

Publication number: US20100329770A1
Application number: US12/492,982
Authority: US
Inventors: Chris Volek
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-06-26
Filing date: 2009-06-26
Publication date: 2010-12-30

Abstract

A nail polish bottle has a pair of external generally arcuate depressions formed in opposite walls of the bottle that are sized to accommodate a respective one of adjacent fingers of a user's hand when those fingers are spread apart so that the fingers exert a gripping and stabilizing force against the bottle. The preferred location for the generally arcuate depressions places them at the lower portion of the bottle at approximately the same distance from the base of the bottle, and preferably close to the base.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to bottles, and more specifically to a nail polish bottle having a gripping structure formed in its wall.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The application of nail polish to one's fingernails has been problematic. With the nails on one hand being polished, the user has only one hand available to apply the polish. The bottle containing the nail polish is small and at risk of tipping over, particularly each time the applicator is in the process of being inserted into, or withdrawn from, into the bottle. Additionally, polish may drip from the applicator onto the table, floor or other supporting surfaces as the applicator is moved from the bottle towards the nail.

SUMMARY

The bottle herein has a pair of external generally arcuate depressions formed in opposite walls of the bottle that are sized to accommodate a respective one of adjacent fingers of a user's hand when those fingers are spread apart so that the fingers exert a gripping and stabilizing force against the bottle.
Additional details will be appreciated from the following description and illustrations of the preferred embodiment.

THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 herein is a left front perspective view of a nail polish bottle constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 herein is a front elevation view of the bottle of FIG. 1 schematic illustration of a system constructed and used in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 3 is shows an exemplary use of the bottle of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a nail polish bottle 10 is illustrated comprising a front wall 12, a rear wall (not illustrated) on the opposite side of the bottle from the front wall, two opposing side walls 15, 17, and a base 20. The term “opposing” means that the side walls are on opposite sides of the bottle. The term “sides” is not meant to exclude circular, oval, or other non-planar wall shapes but is instead intended to denote the equivalent spatial relationship of the pertinent bottle surfaces.
A removable cap 14 threadibly engages the bottle. An applicator 22 is extends from the interior of the cap 14 so that the cap can be used as a grippable surface when applying the nail polish to the nail.
The side walls 15, 17 have exterior generally arcuate depressions 16, 18 respectively that are, as illustrated in FIG. 3, spaced and sized to accommodate a respective one of an adjacent pair of fingers of the hand whose nails are being polished. The fingers are spread so that the bottle is firmly and stably held between them. Although the bottle is illustrated as being held between the index and middle fingers (which are believed to thereby provide the best stability), the bottle can be held between any desired adjacent pair of fingers, and the depressions can be sized accordingly if desired.
While the depressions illustrated in the Figures are formed in the sidewalls of the bottle, the depressions could instead be formed in the front and back walls, with the bottle accordingly being rotated 90° (about a generally central vertical axis) from the position illustrated in FIG. 3 when held between the fingers.
The generally arcuate depressions 16, 18 need not be true arcs. For example, either one or both may consist of a series of generally planar segments which, together, form a generally arcuate finger-accommodating depression. It is preferred that the depression be sufficient to overlap at least a portion of the accommodated finger's top and/or bottom surface to enhance stability. Moreover, the generally arcuate shape may be part of a full 360° finger-accommodating aperture.
The preferred location for the generally arcuate depressions places them at the lower portion of the bottle and at approximately the same distance from the base, preferably close to the base 20 so that the base 20 may rest on a table or other supporting surface and be stabilized between the adjacent fingers as the hand rests on the same table or supporting surface.
Whether or not the hand and/or bottle is supported by a supporting surface, however, it can be seen from FIG. 3 that the distance from the bottle to the nail being polished is minimized, reducing the risk of dripping. The bottle configuration, as a whole, enhances the convenience, controllability and stability of the polish-applying operation.
While the foregoing description includes detail that will enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the description is illustrative in nature and many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of these teachings. It is accordingly intended that the invention herein be defined solely by the claims hereto, and that the claims be interpreted as broadly as permitted in light of the prior art.

Claims

1. A nail polish bottle comprising at least a pair of opposing external walls having exterior generally arcuate depressions spaced and sized to accommodate a respective one of an adjacent pair of comfortably spread fingers of a human hand whereby the bottle is firmly and stably held between the fingers.

2. The nail polish bottle of claim 1 wherein the bottle has opposing front and back walls and opposing side walls, and the depressions are formed in the front and back side walls.

3. The nail polish bottle of claim 1 wherein the depressions are formed at approximately the same distance from the base.

4. The nail polish bottle of claim 1 wherein the depressions are formed in the sidewalls of the bottle.

5. The nail polish bottle of claim 1 wherein the generally arcuate depressions respectively consist of a series of generally planar segments which, together, form a generally arcuate finger-accommodating depression.

6. The nail polish bottle of claim 1 wherein at least one of the depressions is sufficient to overlap at least a portion of the accommodated finger's top or bottom surface when the hand is held generally palm-down.

7. The nail polish bottle of claim 1 wherein the generally arcuate shape is a portion of a 360° finger-accommodating aperture.

8. The nail polish bottle of claim 1 wherein the bottle has an applicator-supporting cap removably engaging the top of the bottle, and a base at the bottom of the bottle, and the generally arcuate depressions are positioned nearer to the base than to the engaged cap.

9. The nail polish bottle of claim 8 wherein the depressions are formed at approximately the same distance from the base.