WO1998031252A1

WO1998031252A1 - Fluid dispensing container with finger grooves

Info

Publication number: WO1998031252A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/011361
Authority: WO
Inventors: Randolf C. Kotoucek; Charles G. Heath
Original assignee: Kranson Industries, Inc.
Priority date: 1997-01-17
Filing date: 1997-06-27
Publication date: 1998-07-23
Also published as: AU3585797A

Abstract

This invention is a container (20) for dispensing fluid with an applicator (44). The container (20) comprises a front, a back, first and second sides, and has a fluid storage volume (30) therein. There are concave finger grooves (36, 38) in the front and back which converge toward the first side so that the container (20) can be grasped between the adjacent extended fingers of the user's hand. There is an opening (34) adjacent the top of the container (20) that is oriented at an angle with respect to vertical, and which preferably slopes generally away from the first side and toward the second side to facilitate the insertion of an applicator (44) through the opening (34).

Description

FLUID DISPENSING CONTAINER WITH FINGER GROOVES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to containers of the type used to dispense a fluid with an applicator, and in particular to such a container with finger grooves to allow the user to more comfortably and securely hold the container during use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Several types of fluids are provided in containers with applicators to facilitate dispensing the fluid. For example, nail polish is typically provided in a short, squat bottle, with a generally vertically oriented opening through which the user inserts a brush applicator to withdraw polish for application to the nails. Another example is correcting fluid, which is typically provided in a short, squat, cylindrical bottle having a generally vertical oriented opening through which the user inserts a blush applicator to withdraw fluid to apply to a paper. These containers work fairly well, and there are millions of them in use. However, the user has to be very careful not to tip the open container while inserting and removing the applicator from the opening in the container. The short, squat shape of these containers generally does not facilitate comfortably grasping them. Moreover, a special problem is presented in the case of nail polish containers, where the user generally wants to keep the hand that is not using the applicator flat, in order to apply polish to the finger nails.

Some attempts have been made to provide dispenser bottles, and particularly nail polish bottles, with finger grooves, for example, Jefferis, U.S. Patent No. 2,140,23₁; Ammarell, U.S. Patent No. 2,656,842; Noon, U.S. Patent No. 2,865,384; Ficcadenti, U.S. Patent No. 5,567,070; and Perl, European Patent Application No. 80303434.7 (Publication No. 0 026 667) ; but these bottles were still uncomfortable to hold, and difficult to use because of the vertical orientations of their openings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved container with grooves extending adjacent to, and parallel with, the bottom to allow the user to comfortably and securely hold the container. The top of the container preferably slopes toward the one side at an angle of less than 90° with respect to the bottom so that the opening in the top is angled away from the user's hand when the container is grasped between the fingers. Angling the top of the container also facilitates inserting and removing an applicator through the opening. In one preferred embodiment, the grooves comprise a back surface and upper and lower surface, and there are convex raised lands on the lower surfaces of the grooves. These lands accommodate the natural curves of the fingers. The lands also increase the weight of the container to resist tipping. The container generally comprises relatively wide front and back faces, and relatively narrow left and right sides therebetween. In accordance with this invention the container is provided with two elongate concave finger grooves on the front and back faces of the container, so that the container can be conveniently held between the adjacent extended fingers of the user's hand. The grooves preferably converge toward the right side so that the container more comfortably fits in the v- shaped crook between the fingers. The lands in the grooves also increase the user's comfort. The finger grooves allow the container to be stabilized while the user's other hand is free to manipulate the applicator. The container is particularly useful for nail polish and the like because the container can be grasped between the extended fingers of the user's free hand, without interfering with access to the nails, so that the user can apply polish to the fingernails of the same hand that is holding the container. The container of this invention is of simple and inexpensive construction. The finger grooves can be incorporated into virtually any container, and provide a comfortable, secure way to hold the container from tipping. The convex lands accommodate the natural curve of the finger and provide a counter weight to the sloped top. These and other features and advantages of the invention will be in part apparent, and in part pointed out, hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a container constructed according to the principles of this invention, shown as it would be held between the adjacent extended fingers of a user's hand;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation view of the first embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation view of the first embodiment;

Fig. 4 is a left side elevation view of the first embodiment;

Fig. 5 is a right side elevation view of the embodiment;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view of the first embodiment, taken along the plane of line 6-6 in Fig. 2 ;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a container constructed according to the principles of this invention; Fig. 8 is a front elevation view of the second embodiment;

Fig. 9 is a rear elevation view of the second embodiment;

Fig. 10 is a left side elevation view of the second embodiment;

Fig. 11 is a right side elevation view of the second embodiment ;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the second embodiment; and

Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view of the second embodiment.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first embodiment of a container constructed according to the principles of the present invention, indicated generally as 20, is shown in Fig. 1 as it would be grasped between the adjacent extended fingers F of the user's hand H. The container can be made of glass or plastic. The material should not react with the contents of the container, and it is generally preferred that the material be transparent or at least translucent so that contents of the container can be viewed.

The container 20 comprises a front 22, a back 24, left side 26, and a right side 28, with fluid storage volume 30 therein. The container 20 has a generally flat bottom 32 so that the container can stand upright on a flat surface. The container has an opening 34 generally at the top for accessing the interior with an applicator to remove and use the fluid in the container.

According to the principles of this invention, there are two elongate grooves 36 and 38 on the front 22 and the back 24 of the container 20. The grooves 36 and 38 are generally straight, with a concave cross section, so that the container can be grasped between the adjacent extended fingers of the user's hand. The grooves 36 and 38 preferably converge toward the left side 26 of the container, so that the container more comfortably fits in the crook of the user's fingers.

According to another aspect of this invention, the top of the container, and the opening 34 therein is oriented at an angle with respect to vertical, to facilitate inserting and removing an applicator in the top. In this first preferred embodiment, the opening 34 preferably slopes away from the left side 26 and toward the right side 28, so that when the container is held between the fingers, the opening generally faces away from the user's hand.

The opening 34 is preferably surrounded by a threaded collar 40 for receiving a threaded cap 42, with an integral applicator brush 44.

A second embodiment of a container constructed according to the principles of the present invention, indicated generally as 20', is shown in Fig. 7. The container 20' is similar in construction to container 20, and corresponding parts are identified with corresponding reference numerals. The container 20', like container 20, can be made of glass or plastic. The material should not react with the contents of the container, and it is generally preferred that the material be transparent or at least translucent so that contents of the container can be viewed. The container 20' comprises a front 22, a back 24, left side 26, and a right side 28, with fluid storage volume 30 therein. The container 20' has a generally flat bottom 32 so that the container can stand upright on a flat surface. The container has an opening 34 generally at the top for accessing the interior with an applicator to remove and use the fluid in the container.

According to the principles of this invention, there are two elongate grooves 36' and 38' on the front 22 and the back 24 of the container 20. The grooves 36' and 38' are generally straight, with a concave cross section, so that the container can be grasped between the adjacent extended fingers of the user's hand. In this second embodiment, the grooves 36' and 38' preferably have a channel-shaped cross section with a back surface 46 and upper and lower surfaces 48 and 50. There are preferably raised convex lands 52 on the lower surfaces 50 of the grooves 36' and 38'. These lands 52 accommodate the natural curve of the fingers, making it more comfortable to grasp the container 20'. The convex lands 52 also counter weight the left side 36 of the container to resist tipping of the container 20' toward the right side 38 due to the slope of the top of the container. Because of the slope of the top, the container, particularly when full, is eccentrically weighted, and easier to tip, particularly while inserting and removing the applicator. The lands 52 by making the bottom surface 50 of the grooves 36' and 38' thicker" on the left side 36 than on the right side 38 help resist tipping toward the right side. The grooves 36' and 38' preferably converge toward the left side 26 of the container 20', so that the container more comfortably fits in the crook of the user's fingers.

According to another aspect of this invention, the opening 34 is oriented at an angle with respect to vertical, to facilitate inserting and removing an applicator in the top. In this preferred second embodiment, the opening preferably slopes away from the left side 26 and toward the right side 28, so that when the container 20' is held between the fingers, the opening 34 generally faces away from the user's hand.

OPERATION

The containers 20 and 20' of the present invention are ideally suited for dispensing a fluid, such as nail polish, correction fluid, or adhesives, with an applicator. For example, in the case of nail polish, the user would grasp the bottom of the containers 20 or 20' between two adjacent fingers, for example the index finger and middle finger, with the fingers resting comfortably in the grooves 36 and 38 or 36' and 38', and the left side 26 of the bottle oriented generally toward the user's hand, and the right side 28 of the bottle oriented generally away from the user's hand. The user then twists the cap 42 off the collar 40, and uses the integral applicator 44 to dispense the nail polish. The nail polish can be conveniently applied to the nails on the hand holding the bottle, since the fingers are generally extended. The sloped opening of the container makes it easier to insert and remove the applicator from the container, as does the orientation of the opening away from the hand holding the container. The lands 52 in the second embodiment 20' increase the comfort of the grooves 36' and 38', and counterweights the left side 26 of the container to help prevent the container 20' from tipping toward the right side 28 due to the slope of the top of the container.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In a container having a fluid storage volume, a flat bottom, and an opening adjacent the top for dispensing fluid held therein, the improvement comprising two elongate concave finger grooves that converge toward one side so that the container can be grasped between the adjacent extended fingers of the user's hand.

2. The container according to claim 1 wherein the opening slopes at an angle with respect to vertical.

3. The container according to claim 2 wherein the opening slopes away from the side of the container toward which the grooves converge.

4. The container according to claim 2 wherein grooves comprise a back surface, and top and bottom surfaces and further comprising raised lands on the bottom surface of the groove, opposite from the side toward which the opening slopes.

5. A container for dispensing fluid with an applicator, the container having a fluid storage volume and a generally flat bottom, an opening adjacent the top, and two elongate concave finger grooves adjacent the bottom that converge toward one side so that the container can be grasped between the adjacent extended fingers of the user's hand.

6. The container according to claim 5 wherein the opening is oriented at an angle with respect to vertical.

7. The container according to claim 6 wherein the opening slopes away from the side of the container toward which the grooves converge.

8. The container according to claim 6 wherein grooves comprise a back surface, and top and bottom surfaces and further comprising raised lands on the bottom surface of the groove, opposite from the side toward which the opening slopes.

9. A container for dispensing fluid with an applicator, the container comprising a front, a back, and left and right sides, and having a fluid storage volume therein, a flat bottom, an opening adjacent the top, and elongate concave finger groves in the front and back that converge toward the left side so that the container can be grasped between the adjacent extended fingers of the user's hand.

10. The container according to claim 9 wherein the opening is oriented at an angle with respect to vertical to facilitate the insertion of an applicator through the opening.

11. The container according to claim 10 wherein the opening is sloped away from the left side.

12. The container according to claim 11 wherein grooves comprise a back surface, and top and bottom surfaces and further comprising raised lands on the bottom surface of the groove, opposite from the side toward which the opening slopes.

13. A container for dispensing fluid with an applicator, the container comprising a front, a back, and first and second sides, and having a fluid storage volume therein, a flat bottom, an opening adjacent the top, concave finger grooves in the front and the back which converge toward the first side so that the container can be grasped between the adjacent extended fingers of the users hand, the opening oriented at an angle with respect to vertical and sloping generally away from the first side and toward the second side to facilitate the insertion of an applicator through the opening.

14. The container according to claim 13 wherein grooves comprise a back surface, and top and bottom surfaces and further comprising raised lands on the bottom surface of the groove, opposite from the side toward which the opening slopes.

15. A method of applying fluid with an applicator, the method comprising providing a fluid-filled container having a flat bottom, and an opening adjacent the top for dispensing fluid held therein, and two elongate concave finger grooves adjacent the bottom; converging toward one side of the container grasping the finger grips on the container between the adjacent extended fingers of one hand, inserting an applicator into the bottle to remove fluid therefrom.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the opening is oriented at an angle with respect to vertical sloping generally away from side of the container toward which the finger grooves converge.

17. A dispenser bottle having a body with relatively wide front and back faces, and relatively narrow first and second sides therebetween, and a flat bottom, the body extending upwardly from the bottom at an angle with respect to vertical, slanted toward the second side, and having a fluid chamber therein opening at the top, and grooves in the front and back faces adjacent to, and generally parallel with the bottom, the grooves having a concave configuration with a back face and top and bottom faces to receive adjacent fingers of a users hand, and raised convex lands on the bottom faces of the grooves, adjacent the first side.

18. The dispenser bottle according to claim 17 wherein the grooves have arcuate configurations.

19. The dispenser bottle according to claim 17 wherein the grooves diverge from the first end toward the second end.