Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
  • B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
  • B65D1/0223—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents characterised by shape
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D23/00—Details of bottles or jars not otherwise provided for
  • B65D23/10—Handles
  • B65D23/102—Gripping means formed in the walls, e.g. roughening, cavities, projections
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
  • B65D1/32—Containers adapted to be temporarily deformed by external pressure to expel contents
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
  • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
  • B65D47/06—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
  • B65D47/08—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures
  • B65D47/0804—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures integrally formed with the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2203/00—Decoration means, markings, information elements, contents indicators
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
  • B65D2501/0009—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures designed for pouring contents
  • B65D2501/0081—Bottles of non-circular cross-section

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to dispensers having resilient walls and more particularly to a squeezable bottle for dispensing a food product.
• the present disclosure addresses these and other drawbacks and discloses a squeezable bottle including an ornamental feature where the ornamental feature does not inhibit the functional aspects of the squeezable bottle.
• a squeezable bottle may include a panel having at least one ornamental feature thereon.
• the panel may include a first facet having a length and a width and a second facet having a length and a width.
• the lengths of the first and second facets extend in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal length of the squeezable bottle.
• the second facet is disposed adjacent to and defines a first interface with the first facet, and the first interface defines a first one of the at least one ornamental features.
• a generally planar surface of the first facet may be disposed at a predetermined angle with a generally planar surface of the second facet such that the panel is reversibly deformable.
• a squeezable food-storage bottle may include a first pair of opposed side panels having at least one ornamental feature thereon.
• the bottle may include a bottom wall, a top wall configured to engage a cap, a pair of opposed side walls extending between the top and bottom walls, a rear wall disposed between the opposed side walls and extending between the top and bottom walls, and a front wall disposed between the opposed side walls and extending between the top and bottom walls.
• the front wall may include a first panel comprising a first facet having a length and a width. The length of the first facet extends in a direction generally parallel to a length of the squeezable food-storage bottle.
• a second facet has a length and a width.
• the length of the second facet extends in a direction generally parallel to the length of the squeezable food-storage bottle.
• the second facet is disposed adjacent to and defines a first interface with the first facet.
• the first interface defines a first one of the at least one ornamental features.
• a generally planar surface of the first facet is disposed at a predetermined angle with a generally planar surface of the second facet such that the first panel is reversibly deformable.
• FIG. 1 is a front side view of a squeezable bottle including a panel having at least one ornamental feature thereon according to a first non- limiting embodiment.
• FIG. 2 is a side view of the squeezable bottle illustrated in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the squeezable bottle illustrated in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cap usable with the squeezable body of FIG.
• FIG. 5 is a plan view of the cap illustrated in FIG. 3.
• FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cap illustrated in FIG. 5 along line A-A.
• FIG. 7 is a front side view of a squeezable bottle including a panel having at least one ornamental feature thereon according to a second non-limiting embodiment.
• FIG. 8 is a side view of the squeezable bottle illustrated in FIG. 7.
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the squeezable bottle illustrated in FIG. 7.
• FIG. 10 is a front side view of a squeezable bottle including a panel having at least one ornamental feature thereon according to a third non- limiting embodiment.
• FIG. 11 is a side view of the squeezable bottle illustrated in FIG. 10.
• FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the squeezable bottle illustrated in FIG. 10.
• FIG. 13 is a front side view of a squeezable bottle including a panel having at least one ornamental feature thereon according to a fourth non- limiting embodiment.
• FIG. 14 is a side view of the squeezable bottle illustrated in FIG. 13.
• FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the squeezable bottle illustrated in FIG. 13.
• FIG. 16 is a front side view of a squeezable bottle including a panel having at least one ornamental feature thereon according to a fifth non- limiting embodiment.
• FIG. 17 is a side view of the squeezable bottle illustrated in FIG. 16.
• FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the squeezable bottle illustrated in FIG. 16.
• FIG. 19 is a front side view of a squeezable bottle including a panel having at least one ornamental feature thereon according to a sixth non- limiting embodiment.
• FIG. 20 is a side view of the squeezable bottle illustrated in FIG. 19.
• FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the squeezable bottle illustrated in FIG. 19.
• FIG. 22 is a front side view of a squeezable bottle including a panel having at least one ornamental feature thereon according to a seventh non-limiting embodiment.
• FIG. 23 is a side view of the squeezable bottle illustrated in FIG. 22.
• FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the squeezable bottle illustrated in FIG. 22.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a non-limiting embodiment of a squeezable bottle 100.
• the squeezable bottle 100 includes a top dispensing side 102, a bottom base side 104, a front side 106, a rear side 108, and opposed side walls 110, 112 connecting the front side 106 to the rear side 108. It is noted that the squeezable bottle 100 may be an inverted bottle where the top dispensing side 102 serves as a base or bottom end that supports a storing position of the bottle 100 (as opposed to the bottom base side 104).
• the front side 106, the rear side 108 and the opposed side walls 110, 112 generally extend along a longitudinal length of the bottle 100 between the top dispensing side 102 and the bottom base side 104 and an interior storage chamber 114 is defined therein.
• the bottle 100 may be fabricated from a plastic or other flexible material such that the front side 106 and the rear side 108 of the bottle 100 may be resiliently squeezed to discharge contents from the chamber 114 through the top dispensing side 102 of the bottle 100.
• the bottle 100 may be fabricated from a resilient polyethylene terephthalate (or PET) that allows the front side 106 and the rear side 108 of the bottle 100 to be returned to their original shape and position after a squeeze operation.
• PET may also be substantially translucent so that the amount of contents left in the bottle 100 may be visually evaluated. PET may also be desirable due to its recyclability and oxygen barrier characteristics.
• the bottle 100 may also be made from polypropylene.
• the bottle 100 may be used to store a wide variety of food products or condiments including, but not limited to, mustard, relish, mayonnaise, salsa, ketchup, and the like and that a volumetric capacity of the chamber 114 may be varied. Examples of the volumetric capacity of the chamber 114 include, but are not limited to, 8 ounces, 14 ounces, 20 ounces, 34 ounces, 36 ounces, 38 ounces, 50 ounces, 60 ounces and 64 ounces. [0036] As illustrated in FIG. 1 , a protrusion 116 extends from the top dispensing side
• the protrusion 116 may include threads (not shown) disposed around an outer surface 118 thereof for coupling the cap to the bottle 100, although other attachment mechanisms other than threads may be implemented for connecting the cap to the bottle 100 such as, for example, a snap-on engagement structure.
• An upper portion of the protrusion 116 defines an opening for evacuation of the contents of the chamber 114 during a squeeze operation.
• the protrusion 116 has a generally circular cross-sectional geometry having a diameter that is smaller than a cross- sectional dimension of the top dispensing side 102 of the bottle 100 such that a shoulder 120 is provided at an interface between the top dispensing side 102 and the protrusion 116. This construction enables a user to more easily grip the bottle 100 around a neck region of the bottle 100 and thereby improve handling during a squeeze operation.
• the cap 200 includes a cap body 210 and a closure tab
• the cap body 210 and the closure tab 220 are connected via a living hinge.
• the cap body 210 includes a deck 230 having a discharge projection 240 and an internal thread configured to mate with the threads of protrusion 116 of the bottle 100.
• the discharge projection 240 extends upward from the deck 230 in the longitudinal length direction of the bottle 100.
• the deck 230 which has a generally smooth surface, extends in a radial direction generally orthogonal from a bottom of the discharge projection 240 and defines an upper surface of the cap body 210.
• the radial deck 230 also reduces the overall height of the cap 200. In embodiments, the cap 200 height may be reduced between 2/3 and 3 ⁇ 4 of an inch.
• the discharge projection 240 may have a frusto-conical shape (e.g. , a volcano-like shape).
• the cap body 210 may include an internal valve (not shown) to control passage of the contents from the chamber 114 towards an opening of the discharge projection 240.
• the valve is flexible and extends from the cap body towards the chamber 114 of the bottle 100.
• the valve limits or controls the amount of excess content exiting the bottle 100 during and after a squeeze operation that would otherwise collect on the deck 230 and an outer perimeter of the discharge projection 240.
• the radial deck 230 also enables easier clean-up of any excess content that would otherwise collect in various corners and angled portions of conventional caps. Additional descriptions of caps that may be coupled to the bottle 100 are provided in U.S. Patent Application No. 11/477,903 , the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference. [0039] As best seen in FIG.
• the side walls 110, 112 extend from the bottom base side 104 to the top dispensing side 102.
• Each side wall 110, 112 is shaped so as to define the outer contours of the bottle in a cross-sectional view.
• Each side wall 110, 112 is also shaped such that the bottle 100 is tapered along its length and is configured to have a cross-sectional area at the bottom base side 104 larger than a cross-sectional area at the top dispensing side 102.
• the side walls 110, 112 are also seamlessly integrated into (and extend to) the front side 106 and the rear side 108. In this regard, the side walls 110, 112 may curve inwardly in an arcuate manner into the front and rear sides 106, 108 at a rounded edge or fillet as illustrated in FIG. 1.
• the side walls 110, 112 may include a combination of straight intermediate portions and curved (or rounded) upper and lower portions, although the side walls 110, 112 may also include a combination of tapered intermediate portions and curved upper and lower portions.
• the tapered intermediate portions may be configured as concave portions extending from the curved upper and lower portions toward the bottle 100
• the curved upper and lower portions may be configured as convex portions extending outwardly from the bottle 100.
• the concave and convex portions of the side walls 110, 112 narrow the bottle 100 at a midsection thereof such that the bottle 100 has an hour-glass shape.
• the straight intermediate portions and curved upper and lower portions may also be configured such that the straight intermediate portions are positioned inwardly towards the bottle 100 relative to the curved upper and lower portions.
• the side walls 110, 112 are constructed in this manner so as to enable a user to more easily grip the bottle 100 and to improve handling during a squeeze operation.
• the intermediate portions may have a height, e.g., of 2.5 to 3 inches.
• FIG. 2 in side view the front and rear sides 106, 108 slightly taper inwardly at a mid-region of the bottle 100 from their respective upper and lower ends and include panels 122, 124.
• the panels 122, 124 each define a convex surface 126, 128 that projects outwardly from the tapered portion of the front and rear sides 106, 108.
• the panels 122, 124 are at least partially recessed relative to the upper and lower ends of the front and rear sides 106, 108.
• the front and rear sides 106, 108 also include a plurality of grooves 140 that define the recessed portion of the front and rear sides 106, 108.
• the grooves 140 also define an outer perimeter of the panels 122, 124 and taper inwardly towards the panels 122, 124 integrally transitioning the upper and lower ends of the front and rear sides 106, 108 into the panels 122, 124.
• the grooves 140 are configured as guides for user hand placement when performing a squeeze operation of the bottle 100.
• the grooves 140 are also positioned around the panels 122, 124 to improve the user's grip and enhance comfort when performing the squeeze operation of the bottle 100.
• the grooves 140 further enable the user to more stably control the direction of the content being discharged from the chamber 114. It is noted that the grooves 140 additionally serve to enhance the prominence of ornamental features defined by the panels 122, 124 (discussed below).
• the panels 122, 124 include a plurality of resilient facets
• each generally flat surface 132 may include a slight arc or curvature along its length.
• the slight arc stabilizes each facet 130 so as to prevent the facets 130 from being "blown out” when the panels 122, 124 rebound to their original position and shape after a squeeze operation.
• the slight arc also prevents the panels 122, 124 from becoming fixed or distorted in a concave state in a direction towards the chamber 114 after the panels 122, 124 are squeezed. Accordingly, even after a deformation of the panel 122, 124 during a squeeze operation, the structural integrity of the facets 130 is maintained, as is the generally flat look of each facet 130.
• the slight arc may measure approximately 10-20 thousands of an inch (measured from a base end of the generally flat surface to an apex of the arc) and the arc may vary across the width of each facet 130.
• each panel 122, 124 may include two, three, four, or more facets 130, and the number of facets 130 on one panel, i.e., panel 122 or 124, may be different from or equal to the number of facets 130 on the other panel, i.e., panel 122 or 124. In embodiments, it is contemplated that only one of the panels 122, 124 includes the facets 130.
• the generally flat surfaces 132 of adjacent facets 130 are disposed at an angle from one another such that an interface 134 between adjacent panels, which defines a vertex of the angle, projects in a direction away from the chamber 114 and provides ornamental lines 136 when viewed from the front or back as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 3.
• the ornamental lines 136 constitute at least a part of the ornamental feature of the present disclosure and provide the bottle 100 with an appearance that strongly resembles the appearance of iconic glass condiment bottles that have been sold for decades.
• the inclusion and angling of the facets 130 to create the ornamental lines 136 in the panels 122, 124 increases the stiffness and rigidity of the front and rear sides 106, 108, which goes against the squeezable functionality of the bottle 100, i.e., the ability of panels 122, 124 to be reversibly deformable.
• the panels 122, 124 are designed such that adjacent facets are positioned at predetermined angles.
• the bottle 100 By positioning adjacent facets in this manner, the bottle 100 retains substantially all of its flexible functionality for a controlled, uniform and smooth dispensing action of the content from the chamber 114, while maintaining the ornamental aspects that promote the brand image.
• the predetermined angle between adjoining facets varies with the size of the bottle.
• the size of the bottle may refer to a height, a length, a width, a volumetric capacity or any combination of these size factors although those having ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize other known size factors. It is noted that positioning adjacent facets within this range of angles also reduces noise generated when the bottle 100 is compressed during a squeeze operation. If the angle between adjacent facets is too flat, a squeeze operation of the bottle 100 generates an undesirable clicking sound. Similarly, when the angle between adjacent facets is too pronounced, the bottle 100 becomes undesirably stiff and rigid and thereby prevents the bottle 100 from being squeezable in a smooth and controlled manner.
• predetermined ratios between the lengths and widths of each adjoining facet 130 is established so that after a squeeze operation is complete the panels 122, 124 are reversibly deformable to their original state and the ornamental aspects of the bottle 100 are maintained.
• the bottle 100 retains substantially all of its flexible functionality for a controlled, uniform and smooth dispensing action of the content from the chamber 114, while maintaining the ornamental aspects that promote the brand image.
• the predetermined length and width ratios between adjoining facets may also vary with the size of the bottle.
• the length and width ratios may be width-to-width ratios between adjacent facets, length-to-length ratios between facets, and the length-to-width ratios of individual and adjacent facets.
• FIGS. 7-24 show additional non- limiting embodiments of the present disclosure that may incorporate each of the features described above without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 7 shows a front side view of a squeezable bottle 300 including at least one panel 322 having at least one ornamental feature 336 and a plurality of grooves 340.
• FIG. 8 is a side view of the squeezable bottle 300 and
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the squeezable bottle 300.
• FIG. 10 shows a front side view of a squeezable bottle 400 including at least one panel 422 having at least one ornamental feature 436 and a plurality of grooves 440.
• FIG. 11 is a side view of the squeezable bottle 400 and
• FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the squeezable bottle 400.
• FIG. 13 shows a front side view of a squeezable bottle 500 including at least one panel 522 having at least one ornamental feature 536 and a plurality of grooves 540.
• FIG. 14 is a side view of the squeezable bottle 500 and
• FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the squeezable bottle 500.
• FIG. 16 shows a front side view of a squeezable bottle 600 including at least one panel 622 having at least one ornamental feature 636 and a plurality of grooves 640.
• FIG. 17 is a side view of the squeezable bottle 600 and
• FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the squeezable bottle 600.
• FIG. 19 shows a front side view of a squeezable bottle 700 including at least one panel 722 having at least one ornamental feature 736 and a plurality of grooves 740.
• FIG. 20 is a side view of the squeezable bottle 700 and
• FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the squeezable bottle 700.
• FIG. 22 shows a front side view of a squeezable bottle 800 including at least one panel 822 having at least one ornamental feature 836 and a plurality of grooves 840.
• FIG. 23 is a side view of the squeezable bottle 800 and
• FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the squeezable bottle 800.
• squeezable bottles 700 and 800 further include annular protrusions 750 and 850, respectively.
• the annular protrusions 750 and 850 extend circumferentially around a neck region of a top side of each bottle 700, 800 and are disposed below a protrusion configured to attach to a cap.
• the annular protrusions 750, 850 are also each disposed above the panels 722, 822 of their respective bottles 700, 800.
• the annular protrusions 750, 850 are provided so as to increase a volumetric capacity of the chamber 114 and configured as guides for user hand placement to more stably control the bottle 100 and enhance comfort when, e.g. , a user removes the bottle 700, 800 from a storage position.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
• Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
• Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)

Priority Applications (9)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=49916457

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Cited By (4)

Families Citing this family (5)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2013
  • 2013-03-13 MX MX2015000534A patent/MX2015000534A/es unknown
  • 2013-03-13 CA CA2878845A patent/CA2878845A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2013-03-13 BR BR112015000700A patent/BR112015000700A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2013-03-13 RU RU2015104793A patent/RU2015104793A/ru not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2013-03-13 CN CN201380046520.XA patent/CN104619611A/zh active Pending
  • 2013-03-13 WO PCT/US2013/030713 patent/WO2014011223A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2013-03-13 US US14/413,525 patent/US20150203237A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2013-03-13 EP EP13816716.8A patent/EP2872422A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2013-03-13 AU AU2013289192A patent/AU2013289192A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2015
  • 2015-09-02 HK HK15108585.7A patent/HK1208014A1/xx unknown

Patent Citations (5)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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