GB2417232A

GB2417232A - Container for fluids

Info

Publication number: GB2417232A
Application number: GB0414800A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marco Benito Pagliuca
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-01
Filing date: 2004-07-01
Publication date: 2006-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 2024-07-01
Also published as: GB0414800D0; GB2417232B

Abstract

A bottle (100) having an internal base (108) which is shaped so as to cause fluid to flow to a predetermined portion of the interior, e.g. tapered or invented teardrop shape, and a push fit system (210, 212, 214, 300), which in a preferred embodiment is a bayonet coupling, to connect a lid part (104) to a reservoir part (102) of the bottle (100). Furthermore, an adaptor for a container is provided, the adaptor having a threaded portion for attachment to a screw thread of the container and a push fit coupling between the lid and the adaptor. Additionally, a method of forming a container with a push fit coupling between the lid and the reservoir is provided.

Description

24 1 7232 Agents Ref P5003GB

CONTAINER FOR FLUIDS

The present invention relates to a container of the type, for example, used to hold a fluid, such as a liquid to be painted onto a surface or a liquid to be administered in metered quantities. The present invention also relates to a method of forming a container for minimising wastage of a fluid to be contained therein.

In the field of containers, such as bottles for healthcare or beauty products, it is known to provide a small bottle having a screw-top lid. Depending on the fluid to be contained within the bottle, the liquid is either provided with a brush, for example, for nail varnish or adhesives, or a dropper for example, for healthcare products, such as nose drops.

However, when the lid is unscrewed from a threaded neck of the bottle, a proportion of the liquid inside the bottle is inaccessible to the brush or dropper because the threaded neck represents a barrier to complete insertion of the brush or dropper into the neck when the liquid is unscrewed from the bottle. Consequently, in order to access some of the otherwise inaccessible liquid, the bottle has to be tilted with respect to the brush or dropper so that the liquid runs up one side of the bottle to a higher position in the bottle than the base of the bottle. The liquid can then be accessed by the brush or an end of the dropper, because the liquid is closer to the neck of the bottle than before. However, this, method is awkward and/or inconvenient for certain applications, for example, the painting of fingernails by an individual, as the individual is unaided and so must try to manipulate the bottle and brush without damaging any recently applied coats of nail varnish.

In order to avoid tilting the bottle, it is possible to screw and unscrew the lid onto the bottle to permit penetration of the otherwise inaccessible liquid by the brush or dropper, again, this technique is cumbersome and/or inconvenient, requiring multiple twisting actions of the lid relative to the bottle In order to screw the lid onto the bottle and then subsequently unscrew the lid from the bottle. Additionally, whilst more of the liquid can be accessed and used, there still remains a useful residual amount of liquid that is totally inaccessible when stored in such known bottles. This liquid is therefore considered wastage, which for certain costly liquids is undesirable.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container apparatus for a fluid, the apparatus comprising: a reservoir part for storing the fluid therein, the reservoir part having an opening; a lid part for closing the opening and preventing escape of the fluid from the reservoir part, the lid part including a fluid extraction device capable of location within the reservoir part; wherein an interior wall of the reservoir portion is shaped so as to cause the fluid, when present, to flow under the influence of gravity to a predetermined portion of the reservoir part; and the lid part is releasably securable to the reservoir part by a push fit type coupling.

Preferably, the push fit type coupling is a bayonet fit.

Preferably, the fluid extraction device has a proximal end, the fluid extraction device being coupled to or integrally formed with the lid part at or near the proximal end of the fluid extraction device.

Preferably, the fluid extraction device has a distal end disposable in close proximity to the predetermined portion of the reservoir part, when the lid part is against the reservoir part adjacent the opening. More preferably, the distal end of the fluid extraction device l is capable of being urged closer to the predetermined portion of the reservoir part in response to urging the lid part substantially axially towards the reservoir part.

Preferably, the fluid extraction device is a brush. Alternatively, the fluid extraction device may be a dropper.

Preferably, the push fit type coupling comprises biasing means to urge the lid part away from the reservoir part in response to the lid part being urged against the reservoir part.

The apparatus may further comprise a seal for preventing fluid escape from the reservoir part. Preferably, the seal serves as the biasing means.

Preferably, the reservoir part comprises a neck, the neck providing the opening. More preferably, the apparatus further comprises a sleeve disposed within the neck. Very preferably, the sleeve comprises a peripheral shoulder to limit insertion of the sleeve within the neck.

The sleeve may carry part of the push fit type coupling.

Preferably, the seal comprises a first portion for sealing location between a part of the fluid extraction device and an internal wall of or within the neck.

Preferably, the seal comprises a second portion for locating between an internal surface of the lid part and the neck or the sleeve.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a seat portion coaxial with the opening.

More preferably, the lid part comprises a closure member for sealingly closing the reservoir part when the push fit type coupling is engaged, thereby bringing, when in use, the closure member into sealing contact with the seat.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a base part to support the reservoir part.

More preferably, the base part comprises a stand to receive the reservoir part.

The base part may be capable of orienting the reservoir part with respect to a reference surface for supporting the base part. The orientation of the reservoir part may be adjustable. The base part may comprise a shoulder joint.

Preferably, the internal wall of the reservoir part tapers so as to converge towards the predetermined portion of the reservoir part.

Preferably, the predetermined portion is beneath the opening. More preferably, the predetermined portion of the reservoir part assumes, when in use, a lowermost position within the reservoir part.

Preferably, the internal wall defines an inverted teardrop shape According to a second aspect of the present invention the present invention, there is provided a method of forming a container for minimising wastage of fluid to be contained therein, the method comprising the steps of forming a reservoir part with an opening for storing the fluid therein; forming a lid part for closing the opening and preventing escape of the fluid from the reservoir part, the lid part including a fluid extraction device capable of location within the reservoir part; wherein an interior wall of the reservoir portion is shaped so as to cause the fluid, when present, to flow under the influence of gravity to a predetermined portion of the reservoir part; and providing the lid part and the reservoir part with a push fit type coupling for releasably securing the lid part to the reservoir part.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adaptor apparatus for a container, the adaptor comprising a body having a threaded portion for attachment to a screw thread of the container and a first push fit type coupling portion for receiving, when in use, a lid part having a second complimentary push fit type coupling portion, the first and second push fit type coupling portions constituting a push fit type coupling.

Preferably, the threaded portion Is an internal thread.

Preferably, the push fit type coupling is a bayonet fit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adaptor apparatus for a lid part, the adaptor having an externally threaded body and a second push fit type coupling portion, the second push fit type coupling portion being arranged to couple, when in use, with a first complimentary push fit type coupling portion of an adaptor for coupling to a container.

It should be appreciated that reference herein to the lid part including the fluid extraction device should be understood to encompass the fluid extraction device either being coupled to the lid part or integrally formed with the lid part.

It is thus possible to provide a container for a fluid that requires less manipulation to extract the fluid from the container by a user than known containers, for example, one- handed use. Consequently, extraction of the fluid is less cumbersome. Also, less wastage of the fluid results, representing a cost saving to the user of the fluid.

At least one embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a bottle constituting an embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an upper portion of a reservoir part of the bottle of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of a lid part of the bottle of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a bayonet fit of the bottle of Figure 1, the lid part being shown in cross section; Figure 5 is the bayonet fitting of figure 4, but in a near engaged state; Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the lid part of Figure 1, employing an alternative seal; Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a part of a seal of Figure 6 in greater details; and Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of another bottle constituting another embodiment of the Invention and having a stand therefore.

Throughout the following description, identical reference numerals will be used to identify like parts.

Referring to Figure 1, a container, such as a bottle 100, comprises a reservoir part 102 and a lid part 104 In this example, the reservoir part 102 comprises a base portion 106 integrally formed therewith.

The reservoir part 102 comprises an internal wail 108 shaped so as to cause any liquid in the bottle 100 to try to flow towards a predetermined portion 112 of the bottle 100.

A reservoir part 102 comprises a neck 114 and the pre-determined portion 112 of the reservoir part 102 Is located below the neck 114 and constitutes a lowermost part of the bottle 100 In this example, the internal wall 108 is tapered so as to converge upon the pre- determined portion 112 of the reservoir part 102. More particularly, in this example, the internal wall 108 defines an inverted teardrop shaped chamber 116.

The lid part 104, in this example, comprises a brush 118 having a stem 120 and bristles 122 Alternatively, in place of the brush 118, a dropper (not shown) can be provided for certain applications.

Turning to Figure 2, a sleeve 200 is located in the neck 114 and can either be held in place by a strong friction bit, or with the assistance of an adhesive and/or sealant (not shown). The sleeve 200 comprises a circumferential shoulder 202, which eventually abuts a rim 204 of the neck 114 during insertion thereof. At a first end 206 of the sleeve 200, the sleeve 200 has a concave circumferential seat surface 208.

The shoulder 202 comprises a pair of locking hooks 21O, the locking hooks 210 being integrally formed with the shoulder 202 and located In diametrically opposed relation to each other. Each locking hook 210 is shaped so as to define a recess 212 within the hook 210 that requires downward movement of a pair of corresponding locking pins 300 (not shown) relative to the neck 104 prior to permitting release of the locking pins 300 from within the recess by rotational movement. Consequently, each locking hook 210 has a mouth 214 and the recess 212 is disposed back from the mouth 214 and slightly raised with respect to the mouth 214.

The lid part 104 has a blind bore 302 having a first region 304 of a first radius and a second region 306 of a second radius narrower than the first radius. An annular elastomeric seal 308 resides within the second, upper, region 306 of the lid part 104 and sealingly abuts an annular region of an upper surface 310 of the lid part 104 and a circumferential region 312 of the second region 306 of the blind bore 302. In this example, the seal 308 Is tubular, though the seal can be solid.

The locking pins 300 are integrally formed with an internal cylindrical wall 314 of the first region 304 of the blind bore 302. The lid part 104 has a circumferential rim 316 and the locking pins 300 are recessed from the rim 316 at a distance sufficient to ensure compression of the seal 308 when the seal 308 abuts the concave seat surface 208, thereby maintaining a flud-tght seal between the lid part 104 and the sleeve 200.

In this example, the stem 120 of the brush 118 comprises a closure member 318, the stem 120 being coupled to or integrally formed with the stem 120 The closure member 318 is fixed to or integrally formed with the upper surface 310 of the lid part 104. The closure member 318 is a flared part, flaring outwardly with a curved profile from a point ' where the stem 120 meets the closure member 318 to where the closure member 318 meets the upper surface 310 of the lid part 104.

The sleeve 200 (Figure 4) comprises a seat 400 that is complementarily shaped with respect to the closure member 318. Additionally, the sleeve 200 has a circumferential lip 404 against which the bristles 122 of the brush 118 can be brushed to remove excess fluid from the bristles 122 of the brush 118. The excess fluid can then run down the seat 400 back into the reservoir part 102, thereby avoiding fouling of the exterior surfaces of the sleeve 200 and neck 114.

In order to close the bottle 100, the lid part 104 is placed onto the sleeve 200 by guiding the brush 118 into the reservoir part 102 until the lid part 104 abuts the sleeve In case the locking pins 300 accidentally contact an exterior surface 402 of the locking hooks 210, the exterior surface 402 is shaped so as to slope downwardly towards the shoulder 202, thereby causing the locking pins 300 to fall either side of their respective locking hook 210.

The mouth 214 of the locking hooks 210 are located at a pre-determined distance from the shoulder 202 to require compression of the lid part 104 against the first end 206 of the sleeve 200 before entry of the locking pins 300 into the recesses 212 of the locking hooks 210 is possible. Therefore, as is common to push fit type couplings, such as bayonet fit systems, the lid part 104 needs to be pressed 406 towards the reservoir part 102, and in relation to bayonet fit systems particularly, rotated 500 (Figure 5) in order to engage the locking pin 300 in the locking hooks 210. The engagement process is completed by release 502 of the lid part 104 (of removal of pressure on the lid part 104 towards the reservoir part 102), causing the seal 308 to urge the lid part 104 away from the sleeve 200, thereby causing the locking pins 300 to be retained within the recesses of the locking hooks 210. The seal 308 therefore serves as a biasing means and can, if desired, be replaced with a different seal type and a spring (not shown).

Indeed, upon closure, the closure member 318 abuts the seat 400 to create a seal there between.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the seal 308 and the flared closure member 318 can be replaced with the following arrangement. The lid part 104 comprises, as described above, the blind bore 302 having the first region 304 of the first radius and the second region 306 of the second radius, narrower than the first radius. However, in this example, the second region Is deeper than the first region. Although not shown, the locking pins 300 are still integrally formed with the internal cylindrical wall 314 of the first region 304.

The upper surface 310 of the lid part 104 comprises a, centrally located, circumferential lug 600. In this example, the lug 600 is shallow, but deeper lugs can be employed. The lug 600 is integrally formed with the lid part 104 and has a circumferential wall 602. The circumferential wall 602 tapers outwardly to provide in this example, improved retention of a generally T-shaped (in cross-section) seal 604. The seal 604 comprises a complementary central recess 608 for receiving the lug 600. The seal 604 comprises a circumferential arm 610 that extends outwardly towards a second internal side wall 612 of the second region 306 so as to abut the second internal side wall 612. At a distal end 614 of the arm 610, the seal 604 comprises a downwardly depending part 616 that extends towards the first region 304 and also Inwardly towards a central longitudinal axis (not shown). The downwardly depending part 616 Is bulged and has a convex communicating surface 618 having a complementary shape to the concave circumferential seat surface 208 of the sleeve 200. A clearance 620 is provided between the downwardly depending part 616 and the arm 610 in order to accommodate movement of the seal 604 substantially parallel with the central longitudinal axis. The downwardly depending part 616 has an external circumferential wall 622 that sealingly abuts the second internal wall 612.

A stem part 624 of the seal 604 comprises a circumferential seal wall 626 that is spaced a sufficient distance from the external circumferential wall 622 to provide a first circumferential clearance 628 for accommodating the sleeve 200 and a second, further, circumferential clearance 630 adjacent the first clearance 628. The seal wall 626 has a flared portion 631 located at a distal end 632 of the seal wall 626, the flared portion 631 having a tip 634.

Within the seal wall 626, an axial post 636 is integrally formed with the seal 604 from the same material as the seal 604 and depends downwardly. The brush 118, or if required the dropper, is attached to, or integrally formed with, a connector 638. The connector 638 comprises a complementary circumferential wall 640 having an internal bore (not shown) for receiving the axial post 636. A circumferential abutment shoulder 642 is provided to abut a part of the distal end 632 of the abutment shoulder 642, thereby supporting the seal 606.

Upon insertion of the lid part 104 onto the sleeve 200 (located within the neck 114), the convex communicating surface 618 is brought into abutment with the concave circumferential seat surface 208. When pressed and rotated into a locking state, the communicating surface 618 abuts the seat surface 208 under a pressure sufficient to create a seal there between. In addition, the tip 634 of the seal 606 abuts an inner wall of the sleeve 200 in a sealing manner to provide a secondary seal between the sleeve and the sleeve 604. Consequently, fluid retained within the reservoir part 102 cannot escape from the bottle 100. Whilst in the above examples, the bottle 100 comprises a base portion 106, the base portion 106 can be replaced by a support structure (Figure 8), for example a wire frame base 900. In this example, the wire frame base 900 comprises a base loop 902 for resting upon a surface. For stability, the base loop 902 has a diameter that extends beyond an outer periphery 904 of the bottle 100.

A second loop 906, having a diameter less than the outer periphery 904 of the bottle 100, Is attached to the base loop 902 by a spacer bar 908. In this example, the spacer bar 908 is arcuate and comprises a shoulder joint 910 at an interface between the second loop 906 and the spacer bar 908. The spacer bar 908 is formed so as to retain the second loop 906 in a substantially coaxial relation with the base loop 902.

Due to the tapered profile of the bottle 100, the bottle 100 can be inserted into the second loop 906 and complete passage of the bottle 100 through the second loop 906 impeded at the part of the outer periphery 904 of the bottle 100 that is greater than the diameter of the second loop 906.

The bottle 100 is therefore held by the second loop 906 above the base 902. If orientation of the bottle 100 for more convenient extraction of the fluid from the bottle is required, the shoulder joint 910 permits rotation of the second loop 906 relative to the spacer bar 908 and hence the bottle 100, whilst retaining the centre of gravity of the bottle 100 substantially within the base loop 902.

Whilst the above example has been described in the context of a tapered bottle 100 and the secondary loop 906, other bottle shapes can be accommodated by providing the bottles with suitable features to the bottle 100 and/or the second loop 906. For example, for a bottle having a substantially square or circular cross-section, a peripheral shoulder can be provided to abut a complementarily shaped second loop 906.

In another embodiment of the invention, an adaptor unit can be provided having a body comprising an internal thread for coupling to existing bottles and/or containers. The body also comprises a first part of the bayonet fit. A second adaptor having a respective externally threaded body can also be provided, the second adaptor carrying a complimentary second part of the bayonet fit. Of course, whist a bayonet fit is being employed in this embodiment, it should be appreciated that any suitable push-fit type coupling can be employed.

Claims

1. A container apparatus for a fluid, the apparatus comprising a reservoir part for storing the fluid therein, the reservoir part having an opening; a lid part for closing the opening and preventing escape of the fluid from the reservoir part, the lid part including a fluid extraction device capable of location within the reservoir part; wherein an interior wall of the reservoir portion is shaped so as to cause the fluid, when present, to flow under the Influence of gravity to a predetermined portion of the reservoir part; and the lid part is releasably securable to the reservoir part by a push fit type coupling.

2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the push fit type coupling is a bayonet fit.

3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the fluid extraction device has a proximal end, the fluid extraction device being coupled to or integrally formed with the lid part at or near the proximal end of the fluid extraction device.

4. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the fluid extraction device has a distal end disposable in close proximity to the predetermined portion of the reservoir part, when the lid part Is against the reservoir part adjacent the opening.

5. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the distal end of the fluid extraction device is capable of being urged closer to the predetermined portion of the reservoir part in response to urging the lid part substantially axially towards the reservoir part.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid extraction device is a brush.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the fluid extraction device is a dropper.

8. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the push fit type coupling comprises biasing means to urge the lid part away from the reservoir part in response to the lid part being urged against the reservoir part.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a seal for preventing fluid escape from the reservoir part.

10. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, when dependent upon Claim 8, wherein the seal is the biasing means.

11. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reservoir part comprises a neck, the neck providing the opening.

12. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11, further comprising a sleeve disposed within the neck.

13. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the sleeve comprises a peripheral shoulder to limit insertion of the sleeve within the neck.

14. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 12 or Claim 13, wherein the sleeve carries part of the push fit type coupling.

15. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12, when dependent upon Claims 9 or Claim 10, wherein the seal comprises a first portion for sealing location between a part of the fluid extraction device and an internal wall of or within the neck.

16. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12, when dependent upon Claims 9 and 10, wherein the seal comprises a second portion for locating between an internal surface of the lid part and the neck or the sleeve.

17. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a seat portion coaxial with the opening.

18. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the lid part comprises a closure member for sealingly closing the reservoir part when the push fit type coupling is engaged, thereby bringing, when in use, the closure member into sealing contact with the seat.

19. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a base part to support the reservoir part.

20. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 19, wherein the base part comprises a stand to receive the reservoir part

21. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 19 or Claim 20, wherein the base part is capable of orienting the reservoir part with respect to a reference surface for supporting the base part.

22. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 21, wherein the orientation of the reservoir

part is adjustable.

23. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 22, wherein the base part comprises a shoulder joint.

24. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the internal wall of the reservoir part tapers so as to converge towards the predetermined portion of the reservoir part.

25. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the predetermined portion is beneath the opening.

26. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 25, wherein the predetermined portion of the reservoir part assumes, when in use, a lowermost position within the reservoir part.

27. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the internal wall defines an inverted teardrop shape.

28. A method of forming a container for minimising wastage of fluid to be contained therein, the method comprising the steps of: forming a reservoir part with an opening for storing the fluid therein; forming a lid part for closing the opening and preventing escape of the fluid from the reservoir part, the lid part including a fluid extraction device capable of location within the reservoir part; wherein an interior wall of the reservoir portion is shaped so as to cause the fluid, when present, to flow under the influence of gravity to a predetermined portion of the reservoir part; and providing the lid part and the reservoir part with a push fit type coupling for releasably securing the lid part to the reservoir part.

29. An adaptor apparatus for a container, the adaptor comprising a body having a threaded portion for attachment to a screw thread of the container and a first push fit type coupling portion for receiving, when in use, a lid part having a second complimentary push fit type coupling portion, the first and second push fit type coupling portions constituting a push fit type coupling.

30. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 29, wherein the threaded portion is an internal thread.

31. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 29 or Claim 30, wherein the push fit type coupling is a bayonet fit.

32. A container apparatus for a fluid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.