Abstract:
Described is an attachable bottle grip for assisting a user in dispensing the contents of a bottle. The bottle grip includes a patch having an adhesive on one surface for attaching the patch to the bottle. A textured surface on the opposite side of the patch assists the user in grasping the bottle while dispensing the contents of the bottle. The perimeter of the patch can be shaped to match the contour of the bottle. The patch can include a protective layer for protecting the adhesive prior to attaching the patch to the bottle and can be shaped and marked to indicate the contents of the bottle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates generally to a grip for a bottle. In particular, the invention relates to an attachable bottle grip for preventing a bottle from slipping while a user is dispensing the contents of the bottle.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Various types of consumer products for personal use are sold in bottles. The bottles are frequently equipped with a pump or similar device for dispensing the contents of the bottle. The bottles typically are fabricated from glass or plastic and have a smooth outer surface. Contents of the bottle may include fluid which makes the bottle slippery and difficult to hold if the fluid is inadvertently deposited on the outer surface of the bottle. Some personal care products, such as lotions and skin treatments, are intended for application to the hands of the consumer. Often such products are provided in bottles which have a pump dispenser located at the top of the bottle. The user grips the body of the bottle with one hand and reaches upward with one or more fingers to depress the pump dispenser. If the user&#39;s hand is wet, for example, from previously applied lotion, the downward force required to operate the pump dispenser can cause the bottle to slip from the hand, possible resulting in damage to the bottle and loss of contents.  
         [0003]     Bottles provided by different manufacturers for similar products often have similar shapes and sizes. Moreover, the contents of the bottles are not always easily identified by labeling or marking the bottle. Thus, a user desiring to apply hand lotion may have difficulty determining which bottle has the desired contents if the appropriate bottle is located along side similarly shaped bottles having other contents. In some instances, multiple users may keep identical products in a common location. A user may want to prevent others from using the contents of the user&#39;s bottles, especially if the associated product is expensive or not readily available for purchase.  
         [0004]     Thus there exists a need a bottle grip that provides for a secure grip of a user while dispensing the contents of the bottle. The bottle grip should be easy to apply and remain attached to the bottle throughout its useful life. Moreover, there exists a need to identify and distinguish similarly shaped bottles. The present invention satisfies these needs and provides additional advantages.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     In one aspect, the invention features an attachable bottle grip having a patch with a first surface, a second surface and a perimeter. The first surface is opposite the second surface and includes an adhesive for attaching the patch to a bottle. The second surface has a rough texture to aid a grasp of a user when dispensing at least a portion of the contents of the bottle.  
         [0006]     In another aspect, the invention features an apparatus for assisting a user in dispensing contents. The apparatus includes a bottle, a dispensing mechanism and a patch. The bottle has an inner volume to hold the contents, an outer surface to be gripped by the user and an opening. The dispensing mechanism is affixed to the bottle and extends through the bottle opening. The dispensing mechanism provides at least a portion of the contents to the user when activated by the user. The patch is affixed to the outer surface of the bottle and includes a textured outer surface to aid the grip of the user when dispensing the contents from the bottle.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The above and further advantages of this invention may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like structural elements and features in the various figures. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.  
         [0008]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are front view and side view illustrations, respectively, of a personal care product bottle having a pump dispenser.  
         [0009]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are front view and side view illustrations, respectively, of an embodiment of an apparatus for assisting a user in dispensing contents of a bottle in accordance with the invention.  
         [0010]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are side view and top view illustrations, respectively, of an embodiment of an attachable bottle grip in accordance with the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of a sheet containing multiple attachable bottle grips in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     In brief overview, the invention relates to an attachable bottle grip which can be easily applied to a bottle to help a user grip the bottle. Advantageously, the attachable bottle grip provides for a secure grip while the user dispenses the contents (i.e., product) from the bottle even if the contents coat the outer surface of the bottle or have been applied to the user&#39;s hands. The attachable bottle grip can be fabricated with various designs and identifiers on the outer surface of the grip to identify the contents or the user associated with a specific bottle.  
         [0013]     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a personal care product  10  includes a bottle  14  containing a product, or contents, to be dispensed by a user. Contents can include fluids such as lotions, perfume, liquid soap and the like that at least partially fill an inner volume enclosed by the bottle  14 . As used herein, dispensing contents means dispensing any portion of the contents or all of the contents from the bottle. The bottle  14  has an outer surface  18  having a contour (i.e., shape). As illustrated, the bottle  14  encompasses a substantially cylindrical volume, although the radius of the cylinder gradually decreases with distance from the midpoint along the length of the cylinder. A pump dispenser  22  at the top of the bottle  14  includes a stem  26  extending vertically upward through a bottle opening  30  and a snout  34  extending laterally from the top of the stem section  26 . During use, a user grips the outer surface  18  of the bottle  14  with one hand and reaches upward with one or more fingers to depress the snout  34 . Contents are dispensed from an opening  38  in the snout  34 . If the user&#39;s hand is wet, for example, from previously applied contents, the downward force applied to operate the pump dispenser  22  can cause the bottle  14  to slip from the hand, risking damage to the bottle  14  and loss of the contents.  
         [0014]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are illustrations of an embodiment of an apparatus  42  for assisting a user in dispensing the contents according to the invention. The apparatus  42  includes a bottle  14  and a pump mechanism  22  similar to that shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . The apparatus also includes two patches  46  secured to the outer surface of the bottle  14 . The patches  46  are located diametrically opposite each other (i.e., on opposite sides of the bottle). In other embodiments, other numbers of patches  46  are used. For example, a single patch  46  can be arranged circumferentially around the bottle  14 .  
         [0015]     Each patch  46  has an outer surface  50  with a rough texture to aid the user in grasping the bottle  14  while operating the pump mechanism  22  to dispense the contents. The rough texture can be achieved using raised features (e.g., bumps), dimples or a combination of bumps and dimples along the outer surface to enhance the grasp of the user. In addition, the patch  46  can be constructed from a material that is resistant to coating by the contents of the bottle  14 .  
         [0016]     Although the illustrated embodiment shows a bottle  14  having circular symmetry, the present invention contemplates any shape of bottle, including shapes that are not radially or circularly symmetric. Other types of dispensing mechanisms, such as spray nozzles, can be used in place of the pump dispenser  22 . Moreover, the bottle  14  can be fabricated from any of a variety of materials, including glass and plastic.  
         [0017]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate an edge view and a top view, respectively, of an attachable bottle grip  46 ′ according to an embodiment of the invention. The grip  46 ′ is fabricated as a patch from a flexible material and includes a plurality of bumps  54  on the outer surface  50  to generate a rough texture to enhance the user&#39;s grip. An adhesive layer  58  coats the inner surface  62  of the patch  46 ′. A protective layer  66  is fabricated from a material that resists sticking to the adhesive layer  58 . The protective layer  66  covers the adhesive layer  66  to prevent the patch  46 ′ from sticking to other objects before application to a bottle. The protective layer  66  is removed from the patch  46 ′ just before the user attaches the patch  46 ′ to the bottle.  
         [0018]     The attachable bottle grip  46 ′ can be manufactured in any of a variety of colors, or may include a combination of colors. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer surface  50  includes a marking  70 , such as a graphical design or emblem, to designate the manufacturer of the product or the contents of the bottle. For example, if the product is a strawberry scented lotion, the marking  70  may include an image of a strawberry. Optionally, the marking  70  can identify the owner of the product. The marking  70  can include any combination of colors and can include depressions or raised features on the outer surface  50 .  
         [0019]     The patch  46 ′ includes a perimeter (indicated by dashed lines) which defines any of a variety of shapes. In the illustrative embodiment, the perimeter includes two parallel straight sides  74  and two parallel wavy sides  78 . Because products can be sold in bottles of varying size and contours, a manufacturer may desire a perimeter shaped to match, or complement, a distinctive contour of its bottles. In some instances the perimeter of the patch  46 ′ may require a specific shape to allow the patch  46 ′ to lie smooth against the outer surface  18  of the bottle. Optionally, the shape can be designed to identify the contents of the bottle or the owner of the bottle. For example, if the associated product is a scented lotion, the perimeter can resemble the shape of a strawberry.  
         [0020]     The attachable bottle grip  46 ′ can be provided to a user in a variety of formats.  FIG. 4  illustrates a sheet  82  containing four of the grips  46 ′ illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . Each grip  46 ′ is peeled away from the sheet  82  just prior to its application to the bottle  14 . The sheet format is desirable if the attachable bottle grips  46 ′ are sold with the product. Alternatively, the grips  46 ′ can be provided in a roll. The roll format is advantageous if a consumer uses the same type of grip  46 ′ for a large number of bottles.  
         [0021]     While the invention has been shown and described with reference to specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.