Bottles and jars – Closures – Combined or convertible
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-24
2002-06-04
Young, Lee (Department: 3727)
Bottles and jars
Closures
Combined or convertible
C215S356000, C215SDIG007, C215S376000, C215S330000, C215S331000, C220S916000, C220S212000, C220SDIG001, C220S630000, C220S711000, C220S789000, C222S482000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06398050
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to closable and sealable containers for liquids, and more particularly to a liquid container particularly adapted (but not limited) for use as a beverage container. The present container is preferably configured in the form of a bottle having a relatively narrow neck and openable closure at one end, with a wider base and openable closure at the opposite base end. Means are provided for inverting the bottle with the narrow end down, removing the closure from the now upturned wider end, and locking it onto the narrow end closure to provide a stable support for the inverted bottle.
2. Description of the Related Art
The bottle having a relatively narrow neck and wider base has been proven to be a popular and practical shape for serving as a liquid container. The relatively narrow neck provides a small opening which is easily closed and from which liquids (at least those of low viscosity) may be readily poured. The small mouth of such bottles also makes a convenient drinking dispenser for beverages consumed directly from the bottle, with the mouth of the consumer generally closely fitting the mouth of the bottle to preclude spillage.
However, such bottles with their relatively narrow openings also have certain drawbacks. For example, in many cases it is desirable to drink a beverage from a more conventional glass having a wide opening at its upper end. There may be practical considerations for such a container configuration, e.g., allowing the liquid to “breathe” before or during consumption, as well as esthetic reasons.
Another important practical point is that hot beverages are difficult, and potentially hazardous, to consume from a narrow necked bottle. The development of microwave technology for heating foods and beverages has made it easy to heat a liquid within a bottle without overheating the container itself. However, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to sip a liquid from such a narrow necked opening and to avoid ingesting too large a quantity at any one time, which would result in burning the mouth of the consumer. Traditionally, hot beverages are taken from containers having wide openings (cups, glasses, etc.) which permit the consumer to sip the hot beverage slowly to avoid burning the mouth.
Another characteristic of narrow necked bottles and containers is their reluctance to pour relatively viscous liquids (e.g., ketchup, etc.). While it may be possible to pour the desired quantity from a nearly full bottle, it becomes considerably more difficult as the contents are depleted from the bottle, particularly if the bottle has been-stored in an upright position. A wider opening for the container would greatly facilitate access to the remaining contents of such a viscous liquid.
Accordingly, a need will be seen for a liquid container with opposed openings, with the container having a relatively wide end and an opposite relatively narrow end. Each end includes an openable closure, so the contents of the bottle may be accessed from either the wide or narrow end of the container, as desired. The wider closure may be removed from its corresponding container end and locked to the closure of the narrow end, thus providing a relatively wide support base for the container in its inverted orientation with the narrow neck end positioned downwardly. This allows a consumer to drink from the wider opening of the bottle, while providing good support for the bottle to hold the wider opening upwards as desired.
A discussion of the related art of which the present inventor is aware, and its differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below.
U.S. Pat. No. 611,520 issued on Sep. 27, 1898 to Charles S. Smith, titled “Bottle For Holding Spirits Or Other Liquids And Aerated Waters Separated Until Bottle Is Opened,” describes a bottle having opposite interconnected compartments therein. A stopper is placed between the two, from the larger chamber. The larger chamber is then filled with a liquid under pressure (e.g., seltzer water) to hold the internal stopper in place, the larger chamber is sealed, and the smaller chamber is filled with a liquid (distilled liquor, etc.) and sealed. Removal of the stopper from the larger chamber releases the pressure therein, allowing the intermediate stopper to fall free and the two liquids to mix together. From the above, it is clear that the Smith bottle is intended for only a single use, as any remaining mixture of the liquids would not retain the original carbonated character For long after pressure release. While the present double ended bottle may be used as a single serving container, the two opposite closures also provide for resealing the bottle as desired. Moreover, the two opposed closures cannot be connected to one another, to support the bottle in an inverted orientation with the narrow neck disposed downwardly, as in the case of the present invention. In any case, there is no motivation for holding the Smith bottle in an inverted position, as the bottom opening is relatively small and centered in the wider base, thus making it extremely difficult to drink from that opening anyway.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,770,480 issued on Jul. 15, 1930 to Abraham Danciger, titled “Beverage Container,” describes a bottle having an opening at both ends thereof. One opening is configured for a conventional crimped metal cap, while the opposite opening requires a different type of seal due to the need to pass a stopper therethrough and into the bottle interior. The Danciger bottle and closure assembly is intended to capture sediment at one end of the bottle, as may occur during fermentation, and capture the sediment in the smaller neck of the bottle behind the stopper. The elongate wire rod which passes through the larger seal for manipulating the stopper, precludes use of the larger closure as a base for the bottle regardless of which end it is placed upon. This also precludes installation of the larger closure on the smaller closure
U.S. Pat. No. 2,990,080 issued on Jun. 27, 1961 to Melvin A. Harris, titled “Inverted Bottle Support,” describes a device for supporting a conventional bottle, either upright or inverted. The device comprises a relatively wide circular plate with a central socket for receiving a specially configured stopper end. The stopper end fits closely within the plate receptacle, so the bottle may be held in an inverted position resting upon the support plate. However, the bottle is conventional, having a closed larger base end. The Harris components are configured to support a conventional bottle either upright or inverted, and no bottle having opposed open ends is disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,517 issued on Aug. 7, 1979 to Hermann Kappler et al., titled “Tubular Container,” describes a container having ends of equal diameter with closures at each end. However, only one of the end closures of the Kappler et al. device is openable after manufacture. One of the ends is provided with a series of circumferential barbs or ribs, which engage the inner wall of the cylinder to secure this end cap permanently to the cylinder; only the opposite end is openable after manufacture. This is expected, as both ends are the same diameter, and thus there is no need to provide a removable cap or cover at each end, as provided by the present invention with its bottle ends of different diameters. Moreover, Kappler et al. do not provide any means for attaching the removable cap or cover to the opposite end of the container, as provided by the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,618,066 issued on Oct. 21, 1986 to John G. Vail, titled “Combined Insulated Drinking Mug And Megaphone,” describes a device having a tubular, frustoconical shape with removable closures at, each end thereof. The device may be used to contain a liquid when both closures are installed, or to drink from when the smaller end cap is removed. Removal of both end closures allows the device to be used as a megaphone. However, the larger end cap or closure does not attach to the smaller cap
Hylton Robin A.
Litman Richard C.
Young Lee
LandOfFree
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