Abstract:
A flexible squeeze bottle for containing and dispensing a viscous liquid has a dispenser pump device at one end of the bottle. The pump device consists of a cap, a plunger operator, a hollow tube and a pump rod. The hollow tube is disposed within the flexible bottle for pumping the viscous liquid within the bottle though an outlet opening in the plunger operator for selectively dispensing the viscous liquid therefrom. Another dispensing device, provided at an opposite end of the bottle, includes a closed and sealed opening. The closed and sealed opening is manually openable and closable by the user for selectively dispensing the viscous liquid within the squeeze bottle therefrom.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/040,761 filed on Mar. 31, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a bottle specifically designed to entirely dispense the liquid contents housed therein, and more particularly to a squeeze bottle having a dispensing pump at an upper end and a bottom dispenser on the lower end. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to a bottle specifically designed to entirely dispense the liquid contents housed therein, especially when such liquids are that of a viscous, slow-flow nature. Generally, such bottles are commonly used to dispense viscous liquid contents such as catsup, mustard, shampoo, lotion, conditioners, etc. and such bottles usually contain an opening which is provided at one end. The contents of these bottles may be either pumped out with a pump, or squeezed out by the user squeezing the bottle. When the contents of such bottles have been partially consumed, it is necessary for the user to shake the bottle several times in its upside-down position until the contents reach the opening. This process becomes more time consuming and frustrating when the bottle is nearly empty. In fact, it is nearly impossible to completely empty such pump bottles unless the user is willing to balance the bottle upside down on its lid and wait for several minutes or longer for the contents to gravitate to the opening. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,618,076 to Silvenis discloses for example “A dual dispensing bottle includes two upwardly extending necks having a trigger sprayer attached to one neck and a frangible orifice creating section integrally formed in the other neck. The frangible section is easily removed by twisting and doubles as a plug for the created orifice. The frangible twist-off section enables the consumer to dispense a large amount of product independently of and without removing the trigger sprayer.” This concept uses two necks so that a liquid to be either sprayed or poured. It is, however, not at all suitable for a viscous material. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,136 to Tignor discloses for example “a container having top and bottom access openings where the structure of the container facilitates dispensing the contained materials conveniently and positively especially when the main body of the contained materials have been dispensed and residual material remains.” There is not, however, a teaching or suggestion of using a dispensing pump to dispense the contents of the container. A dispensing pump provides a unique advantage because it enables the user to remove the contents without squeezing the bottle. Instead the container can remain in an upright position. This allows for bottles of any shape and any material. Also, the known amount can be dispensed each time, for example if the pump is fully compressed. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,488 to Ehrbar discloses for example “A squeeze bottle for dispensing viscous liquids of the type having a conventional opening and associated flip lid at the top thereof is provided with a second opening and associated flip lid positioned adjacent the bottom of the squeeze bottle so that the contents remaining when the bottle is nearly empty may be easily dispensed therefrom. Alternatively, the conventional top opening and flip lid may be eliminated and a single opening provided adjacent the bottom of the squeeze bottle. In another embodiment, a squeeze bottle is symmetrically configured to have flip lids of sufficient surface area at each end thereof to permit storage of the squeeze bottle on either end so that the contents may be easily dispensed from the flip lid on which the squeeze bottle rests during storage. Again, there is not a teaching or suggestion of using a dispensing pump to dispense the contents of the container to take advantage of the unique improvement that enables the user to remove the contents without squeezing the bottle, allowing the container to remain in an upright position during use, to enable the forming of the bottles of any shape and even any material and to be able to dispense a known amount each time. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,172 to Braddock discloses for example “A container with dual dispensers for allowing easy and complete dispensing of the container contents from either end of the container. In a first embodiment the container is characterized by a receptacle provided with a top dispenser on the upper end and a bottom dispenser on the lower end. The dispensers each include a pivoting lid or spout which reversibly seals a dispensing hole provided on the corresponding top or bottom surface of the container. In a second embodiment the top dispenser is characterized by a pivoting lid hinged at substantially the midpoint of the container top surface. In a third embodiment the top dispenser includes a spout pivoted to the top surface of the container and in a fourth embodiment the top dispenser is characterized by a threadably-mounted closure which pivotally carries a lid for reversibly sealing a dispensing hole in the top surface of the closure. In another embodiment the container is provided with both top and bottom dispensers, each having a pivoting lid which is recessed in the corresponding end of the container and is pivoted open into dispensing configuration by applying pressure to one end of the lid.” Here to, there is no contemplation of using a dispensing pump to dispense the contents of the container to take advantage of the unique improvement that enables the user to remove the contents without squeezing the bottle, allowing the container to remain in an upright position during use, to enable the forming of the bottles of any shape and even any material and to be able to dispense a known amount each time. 
         [0008]    The current invention seeks to rectify the aforementioned problem, and to provide a container with a top dispenser on the upper end and a bottom dispenser on the lower end. The top dispenser is a dispensing pump to remove the contents without the need to squeeze the bottle, to allow the container to remain in an upright position during use, to enable the forming of the bottles of any shape and even material and to be able to dispense the same amount each time. 
       ASPECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a container with a top dispenser on the upper end and a bottom dispenser on the lower end. 
         [0010]    It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a container wherein the top dispenser is a dispensing pump to remove the contents without the need to squeeze the container. 
         [0011]    It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a container with a top dispenser and bottom dispenser that allows the container to remain in an upright position during use. 
         [0012]    It is still another aspect of the present invention to provide a container with a top dispenser and bottom dispenser that allows the containers to be of any shape and even material. 
         [0013]    It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a container with a top dispenser and bottom dispenser that allows the user to dispense the same amount of the contents of the container each time. 
         [0014]    According to the present invention there has been disclosed a squeeze bottle for containing and dispensing a viscous liquid. The squeeze bottle includes a flexible body. A dispenser pump device is attached at one end of the flexible body. The dispensing pump includes a cap, a plunger operator and a hollow tube. The hollow tube is disposed within the flexible body for pumping the viscous liquid within the body though an outlet opening in the plunger operator for selectively dispensing the viscous liquid therefrom. A second dispensing structure is at an opposite end of the flexible body. The second dispensing structure includes a closed and sealed opening. The closed and sealed opening can be manually opened and closed by the user for selectively dispensing the viscous liquid within the squeeze bottle. 
         [0015]    Further according to the present invention, the squeeze bottle includes at least a partially flat bottom surface on which the bottle rests when in a typical operating or a storage position. 
         [0016]    Still further according to the present invention, the squeeze bottle is constructed of flexible material, such as for example plastic. 
         [0017]    Yet further according to the present invention, the viscous liquid is dispensed quickly or slowly from the squeeze bottle according to the speed that the pump operator of the dispenser pump is operated or the amount squeezed. 
         [0018]    Moreover, further according to the present invention, the amount of viscous liquid being dispensed is controlled by the predetermined distance the plunger is pressed towards the flexible bottle. 
         [0019]    Also according to the present invention, the second dispensing structure at an opposite end of the flexible body includes an opening sealed closed with a plug. 
         [0020]    Further according to the present invention, the second dispensing structure at an opposite end of the flexible body includes an opening sealed closed with a stopper. The stopper is secured within the opening by structure components that firmly grip onto the opening. 
         [0021]    Still further according to the present invention, the structure that firmly grips onto the opening of the second dispensing structure includes projections that extend outward from the stopper and beyond the edge of the opening. 
         [0022]    Also according to the present invention, the stopper is attached to an arm-like section connected to the outside surface of the opposite end of the flexible body. 
         [0023]    Yet further according to the present invention, the second dispensing structure includes a small opening through the base end of the bottle and a cupped shaped closure having an opening there through and that fits over the outer surface of bottle and is mounted thereto. 
         [0024]    Still further according to the present invention, the cup shaped closure is mounted to the bottom of the bottle so as to be able to turn in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction whereby the opening through the cup shaped closure aligns with the opening at the bottom end of the flexible body of the bottle so that the remaining contents in the bottle can be squeezed through the aligned openings. 
         [0025]    Also according to the present invention, the second dispensing structure includes a small opening through the base end of the bottle. The small opening is sealed closed with a removable plug attached to a closure lid. The closure lid can include an upstanding lip which can be secured to the base end of the bottle by friction. The closure lid swings away on a hinge secured to the base end so that the plug is removed from the small opening through the base end of the bottle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]    The structure, operation, and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures (FIGs.). The figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Certain elements in some of the figures may be omitted, or illustrated not-to-scale, for illustrative clarity. The cross-sectional views may be in the form of “slices”, or “near-sighted” cross-sectional views, omitting certain background lines which would otherwise be visible in a “true” cross-sectional view, for illustrative clarity. 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  is an orthogonal view of the plastic squeeze bottle with a pump dispenser, with a pump on top and opening on the bottom, in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a view through lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  showing bottom view of the bottle and the stopper adapted for closing and sealing the bottom opening of the squeeze bottle, in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is an orthogonal view of an alternative embodiment of the plastic squeeze bottle with a pump dispenser on the top of the bottle and an opening through the bottom, in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the alternative embodiment through the lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 , in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is an orthogonal view of an alternative embodiment of the plastic squeeze bottle with a pump dispenser, with a dispensing pump on top (not shown) of the bottle and a closed and sealed opening through the bottom bottle, in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    In the description that follows, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations of these specific details are possible while still achieving the results of the present invention. Well-known processing steps are generally not described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obfuscating the description of the present invention. 
         [0033]    In the description that follows, exemplary dimensions may be presented for an illustrative embodiment of the invention. The dimensions should not be interpreted as limiting. They are included to provide a sense of proportion. Generally speaking, it is the relationship between various elements, where they are located, their contrasting compositions, and sometimes their relative sizes that is of significance. 
         [0034]    In the drawings accompanying the description that follows, often both reference numerals and legends (labels, text descriptions) will be used to identify elements. If legends are provided, they are intended merely as an aid to the reader, and should not in any way be interpreted as limiting. 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a squeeze bottle  10  of the type that may be used for containing and dispensing a viscous liquid such as for example, hand lotion or ketchup. Bottle  10  is preferably a flexible squeeze bottle  10  and may be constructed of various forms and types of flexible material such as for example plastic, nylon, synthetic rubber, and polyethylene. Bottle  10  includes a shaped body  12 , including a top end with an opening, typically through a neck (not shown) and a bottom end  14  on which bottle  10  rests when in a typical operating or a storage position. Being that the contents of bottle  10  are primarily dispensed with a conventional pump dispenser, the bottle can be of any desired shape. An end cap  16 , supporting an associated conventional pump dispenser  18 , is attached by conventional means, such as by internal threads to external threads of the projecting neck forming a top opening of the bottle  10 . 
         [0036]    An aspect of the invention is that the contents of the bottle  10  can be dispensed as quickly or as slowly as desired by simply pushing down on the plunger or pump operator  19  of the dispenser pump  18  at a rate that dispenses the amount of the contents as desired. Also, it is within the terms of the present invention to control the exact amount of the contents being dispensed by pressing the plunger  19  of the pump  18 , a predetermined amount, such as, until it contacts the end cap  16 . The amount of contents being withdrawn from the body  12  through a hollow tube  20 , which in turn is connected to the hollow pump rod  21 , and dispensed through the plunger  19  can also be controlled by the length of the stroke. Any type of conventional dispenser pump can be substituted for pump dispenser  18 . 
         [0037]    A second opening  26 , closed and sealed by a conventional stopper, is provided through the bottom surface  24  at the bottom end  14  of the body  12  of bottle  10  to permit the user to dispense the viscous contents there-from. By providing the closed and sealed opening  26  on the bottom of squeeze bottle  10 , the user may easily dispense the viscous contents that remains in bottle  10  when it is nearly empty and the dispenser pump  18  cannot dispense the remaining contents within the bottle because the end of the tube  20  does not reach the bottom surface  24  of the bottle. 
         [0038]    An advantage of the present invention is that the contents of the bottle  10  can be dispensed from the opening at the bottom end of the bottle without the need for removing the dispensing pump. Further, since the bottle is sitting on the flat bottom surface  24  when the contents are being dispensed from the pump, the contents naturally collect at the bottom of the bottle  12 . Accordingly, it is not necessary to shake the bottle in its upside down position in order to dispense from the opening  26 . 
         [0039]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , standard dispensing pump  18  consists of a cap  16 , a plunger or pump operator  19 , a hollow tube  20  open at one end to the contents of the bottle and a hollow pump rod  21  connecting the plunger  19  to the hollow tube  20 . The pump operator  19  is mounted to the plunger  21  and has a hollow passageway extending there through and an outlet opening  22  from which the contents of the bottle are dispersed. When the user depresses plunger  19  of standard pump  18 , the viscous contents within bottle  12  rises through the hollow tube  20  and is dispensed from the opening  22  of plunger  19 . Typically, the bottom end  20   a  of tube  20  extends close to but not to the bottom base  24  of bottle  12 . If bottom end  20   a  of tube  20  were to contact the bottom base  24 , the viscous contents could not be able to readily enter the tube  20 . 
         [0040]    There can be an opening or outlet  26  through the bottom surface  24  of the bottom end  14  of the bottle. Preferably, the opening  26  extends through the center of bottom surface  24 . Bottom surface  24  may be concave to accommodate stopper  28 , as described below. When the tube  20  is no longer in contact with the contents of the bottle, such as the liquid or cream remaining in the bottom portion of bottle  12  after the pump is no longer dispensing the contents, the user may squeeze the bottle  12 , and the remaining contents are dispensed out of bottle  12  through opening  26 . 
         [0041]    While there is still sufficient viscous contents in the bottle  12  for the dispensing pump  18  to be utilized, opening  26  is sealed closed with a stopper or plug  28 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Stopper  28  is secured within opening  26  to prevent leakage through opening  26 . The stopper can be secured by any conventional means, such as with ear-like projections  29   a  and  29   b . Projections  29   a  and  29   b  firmly grip onto opening  26 , until the user wishes to utilize opening  26 , and then stopper  28  can be removed to open opening  26 . Stopper  28  can be attached to arm-like section  30 , made of plastic or other suitable material, which is connected to the outside of bottom surface  24 . When the user wishes to squeeze bottle  12 , arm-like section  30  is swung away to allow the user to remove stopper  28 , and then the stopper is reinserted to close and seal opening  26  when finished. 
         [0042]      FIG. 2  illustrates a bottom view of bottom surface  24 . Hinge-like section  30  is shown, with stopper  28 , and projections  29   a  and  29   b  (in phantom), as described above. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  illustrates an orthogonal view of the alternative embodiment of plastic squeeze bottle  30  with a pump dispenser  18 . The bottle  30  and the pump dispenser  18  are substantially identical to flexible squeeze bottle with a pump dispenser  10  of  FIG. 1 , except for the base structure. In this embodiment, the base end of the bottle  30  closes the bottle and has a small opening  32  there through. Joined to the bottle  30  is cupped shaped closure  34  that fits over the outer surface of bottle  30  and is mounted thereto so that it is not easily removable. The closure  34  is mounted to the bottle so as to turn in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction. There is a hole  36  within closure  34 . When the user wishes to squeeze the liquid through opening  36 , he/she can turn cupped shaped closure  34  until hole  36  aligns with opening  32  of bottle  30 , see  FIG. 4 . Then, when the user is finished, he/she may simply turn cupped shaped closure  34  until opening  36  is no longer aligned with hole  32  and is sealed closed. 
         [0044]      FIG. 4  illustrates cupped shaped closure  34  with opening or hole  36 . Also shown is opening  32  of bottle  30 . 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of plastic squeeze bottle with a pump dispenser  50 . The bottle and its components are identical to plastic squeeze bottle with a pump dispenser  10 , except for the base mechanism. In this embodiment, a second opening  54 , closed by a conventional plug  58 , is provided through the bottom portion  52  of the dispenser  50  to permit the user to dispense the viscous contents therefrom. By providing the opening through the bottom portion  52  of squeeze bottle  50 , the user may easily dispense the viscous contents that remain in bottle  50  when it is nearly empty, without the need for removing the pump and shaking the bottle in its upside down position in order to dispense from the opening. As with the other embodiments, since the squeeze bottle  50  rests on its bottom portion  52  when being stored, any viscous contents remaining when squeeze bottle  50  is nearly empty will gravitate to the bottom thereof. 
         [0046]    There is an opening or outlet  54  in the center of bottom portion  52 . Bottom portion  52  may be flat or concave. While there is still sufficient viscous contents in the bottle  50  for the pump (not shown) to be utilized, opening  54  is sealed closed with a removable stopper or plug  58 . The plug  58  is attached to a closure lid  56  made of plastic or other suitable material, which is connected by hinge  60  to the outside section of bottom portion  52  and is operable to close and seal the opening  54 . The closure lid  56  can include an upstanding circular lip  56   a  which can be secured to the bottom portion  52  by friction. While a circular lip is shown, it is within the terms of the invention to use a lip of any desired shape that conforms to the shape of the bottom portion  52 . When the user wishes to squeeze bottle  50  and dispense the contents from opening  54 , the closure lid  56  swings away on the hinge  60  from the bottom portion so that the plug  58  is removed from the opening  54 . Then, the opening  54  can be closed and sealed with the plug  58  when finished. 
         [0047]    While the present invention contemplates using the pump dispenser until the contents of the container are nearly emptied and then squeezing the container to dispense the remaining contents, it is also within the terms of the invention to sometimes, for example, to use the pump to dispense a set amount and sometimes to squeeze the container to dispense a large amount of the contents. 
         [0048]    It is also understood, of course, that while the form of the invention herein shown and described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is not intended to illustrate all possible forms thereof. It will also be understood that the words used are words of description rather than limitation, and that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than solely by the examples given.