Abstract:
A tipping rack, especially for large heavy duty liquid detergent containers. The tipping rack facilitates pouring the last portions of product from the container.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     With the increased popularity of so-called “club stores” and others which sell products in large unit volumes at discounts, the need to provide packaging for large unit volumes of products has increased. The need for large unit volumes requires that packages be designed which are capable of withstanding greater stresses, such as that resulting from increased weight of product, then has heretofore been the case. Especially is this true of packages for liquid consumer products, such as liquid detergents and liquid fabric softeners. 
     The arrival of bottles for large unit volumes of liquid detergent, such as 300 oz. bottles, has resulted in a relatively new consumer need, i.e., the need for assistance in pouring from the bottles. For instance, such containers generally need to be tilted at an angle in order to permit dispensing of the last residues of the product. However, due to the weight and bulk of the package and its contents, this is sometimes an inconvenient task. 
     Palmer, U.S. Pat. No. 365,851 discloses a bottle case. The bottle case includes a fulcrum about which one side turns. One side forms a support for the bottle which is carried with it. A slot or opening is present which is said to leave sufficient space for the contents of the bottle to flow without striking the edge of the support. The bottle is illustrated as slanting downwardly on the support. 
     Atkinson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 548,284 is directed to an oil can having a carrying handle arranged so that it can be converted into a support on which the can is pivoted. A ratchet bar and ratchet teeth are provided to prevent two parts of the carrying handle from spreading. 
     Culver et al., U.S. Pat. No. 1,453,547 discloses a barrel holding device. 
     Kestenabum, U.S. Pat. No. 2,549,207 discloses a fluid dispensing container having a supporting casing and a valve. 
     Smith et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,785,836 is directed to a liquid dispenser and a casing therefor. 
     Daves, U.S. Pat. No. 3,814,293 discloses a dispensing rack for use with quart or king size bottles of beverages. The rack supports the bottle in an inclined position and is suitable to be placed on a shelf in a conventional refrigerator. A valve assembly cooperates with the rack to secure the bottle in place. 
     Redick, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,399 is directed to an adapter for bottled water dispensing. 
     McCurdy et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,290 is directed to a fluid dispensing apparatus which includes a support stand having a vertical support member for supporting the bottle at an angle with respect to the horizontal. 
     Thorne, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,146 is directed to a support device for insertion beneath the portion of one end of a drum configured for stable engagement with a chime or a groove so that the drum may be reliably and securely supported in a tilted position for an extended period of time to facilitate emptying of residue therefrom. 
     Despite the various inclined stands in the art, there is still a need for a practical stand for permitting tipping of a heavy container such as a jumbo heavy duty liquid container, and particularly one permitting dispensing from various inclined positions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first embodiment, the present invention concerns a tipping rack for inclining a heavy duty liquid bottle or other consumer package at up to a 45° angle or more in order to permit all or substantially all of the liquid product to be dispensed from the package. In another embodiment, the invention comprises a bottle for liquid consumer products including a spigot, in combination with a tipping rack capable of supporting a container at various inclined angles. 
     In one embodiment, the tipping rack includes a package receiving base, a pivot at one end of the package receiving base, a protrusion for engaging steps at another end of the base, a tipping rack base in contact with the pivot, and at least one step associated with, and spaced vertically from, the rack base. Preferably the rack comprises a plurality of steps associated with and spaced vertically from the rack base. In another embodiment, the tipping rack comprises a pair of support rods extending between two support blocks, and two or more pivotable rods, connected to each other at least one end, the rods receiving one of the support rods in apertures. The rods are pivotable from a first position where they do not rest on the second support rod to a second position where they rest on the second support rod and are able to support the large container. 
     In another embodiment, the invention includes a bottle supported on a support frame which is held at an inclined angle to the horizontal by one or more support beams. The support frame and the support beams are each pivotable at one end in association with a base frame which is generally disposed parallel to the horizontal. 
     In still another embodiment a bottle is inclined on one or more attached support blocks which may also include a support beam and a support frame forming structure. 
     For a more complete understanding of the above and other features and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a tipping rack and package of the invention, supported on a horizontal base. 
     FIG. 2 shows the combined tipping rack and package of FIG. 1 wherein the package is disposed at an angle to the horizontal base. 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view of the tipping rack of the invention without the package. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative rack which can be used in the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the rack of FIG. 4 with a bottle resting thereon at an angle. 
     FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of an alternative rack for the invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the rack of FIG. 6 except that the rods are in the supporting position. 
     FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the tipping rack of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, without the bottle. 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the rack of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the rack of FIG. 10 wherein the support plane forming structure is in the supporting position. 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of a bottle which is elevated by support blocks. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Package  10  is preferably a bottle for liquid consumer products, such as heavy duty liquid detergents or liquid fabric softeners. Bottle  10  is supported on tipping rack  40  which includes package receiving base  36 , pivot  24 , and rack base  20  in contact with the pivot. Extending upwardly from rack base  20  are ladders  44 ,  46 , each of which include steps  28 . Protruding from the rear of package receiving base  36  are protrusions  32 ,  34  which are positioned so as to be received on corresponding steps  28  of ladders  24 ,  26 . Also extending from the rear of package receiving base  36  is handle  30 . 
     Rack base  20  rests on the top horizontal surface  50  of table  18 . At the front end of rack  40  is restraining wall  60  which extends upwardly from rack base  20 . Restraining wall  60  may be wide or narrow, depending on the weight of the bottle. 
     Pivot bar  24  is received within cylinders  26  on either side of the package. Tolerances are lenient so that pivot bar  24  may slide laterally within cylinders  26 , for purposes which will be explained hereinafter. Cylinders  24  may be disposed above and attached to base rack  20  or in which case it is preferred that base  36  rests on base  20 . Alternatively, cylinders  24  may be formed within base  20  in which case rack base  36  may rest on surface  18 . 
     Bottom wall  16  of package  10  may be provided with a surface etching or an abrasive material to prevent or minimize sliding with respect to package support base  36 . Alternatively, or in addition, the upper surface of package support base  36  may be provided with etching or an abrasive material to minimize sliding. Support base  36  may comprise a frame, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and  8  or may be plainer. There the base is a frame, the etching or abrasive material may be placed on the top surface of the frame, as at  70 ,  72 . Where the base  36  is plainer, the etching or abrasive material may be more centrally disposed if desired. 
     In operation, the consumer initially dispenses product by depressing button  70  on spigot  12 . Product then flows freely from the package. When it becomes difficult to dispense product, i.e., when product will not flow or flows at an unacceptably slow rate, the consumer may grasp handle  30  and raise it, thereby inclining package support base  36  at an angle to the upper surface  50  of table  18 . When handle  30  reaches the desired height, the handle is moved laterally so that protrusions  34  at the rear of package support surface  36  are supported by one level of steps  28 . This retains the package in the inclined position. Also, retaining wall  60  prevents or impedes forward motion of the package. When the dispensing of product has again slowed to an unacceptable rate, the package may be elevated further by lifting handle moving it laterally to the right to disengage the protrusions  34  from steps  28  lift it further vertically and then move handle  30  laterally to the left to engage protrusions  34  with steps  28  at a higher level. 
     The package is preferably made of high density polyethylene (HDPE). The rack may be made of a metal such as steel or aluminum, e.g., wires, rods, etc. or may be made of a polymeric material such as polypropylene or HDPE. 
     When the handle is raised, pivot bar  24  rotates within cylinders  26  on either side of the package support base. Tolerance is provided in the accommodation of pivot bar  24  within cylinders  26  to permit the lateral movement necessary to disengage protrusions of steps  28  and to reengage protrusions with steps at a higher or lower level as desired. 
     The invention permits a consumer readily to raise and dispense a heavy heavy-duty liquid container such as a 300 fluid ounce container. 
     In the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, bottle  100  rests upon bottle receiving base  102 . Base  102  pivots within rack base  104 , which rests on general horizontal surface  106  of table  108 . Pivot  110  is formed by knobs  112  which are accommodated within cylinder apertures  116  of rack base  104 . 
     Package receiving base support  120  comprises arm  122 ,  124  connected by cross bar  126 . Arms  122 ,  124  include, at ends opposite cross bar  126 , knobs  130  which are accommodated within cylindrical openings  132  in rack base  104 . The underside of bottle receiving base  102  includes recesses  140  which accommodate an end  142  of support  120  whereby package receiving base  102  is locked into an inclined position by support bar  120 . Where support  120  includes cross bar  126 , the recess on the underside of package receiving base  102  will be sized as to accommodate cross bar  126 . In the embodiment of FIG. 9, support  120 ′ pivots within the frame of bottle receiving support  122 ′ and its opposite end is received within apertures  124 ′ of rack base  126 ′. 
     A still further embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. Tipping rack  200  includes a pair of support blocks  202 ,  203  connected by a first cross beam  206 . A second cross beam likewise extends through and connects blocks  202 ,  203 , but at a higher elevation than cross beam  206 . The bottoms of blocks  202 ,  203  will be disposed generally horizontally and the elevation of beam  208  relative to beam  206  is relative to the horizontal. 
     Beam  206  extends through openings in base beams  210 ,  212 . Beams  206 ,  208 ,  210  and  212  may be of any suitable shape, for instance rods. Cylindrical openings in beams  210  and  212  may accommodate beam  206  if beam  206  is cylindrical. Beams  210 ,  212  are connected by connecting rod  220  which extends between beams  210  and  212  thereof. 
     Beams  210 ,  212  are rotatable from a first position shown in FIG. 6 wherein the beams are not in contact with supporting rod  208  to a second position shown in FIG. 7 wherein they are supported by beam  208 . Due to the elevation of beam  208  with respect to beam  206 , the support of beams  210 ,  212  on beam  208  together with their association with beam  206  results in beams  210 ,  212  being disposed at an incline relative to the horizontal. For instance, the angle may be, as with other tipping racks of the present invention, up to 45° or more, preferably from 20 to 45°. Model  230  is shown in phantoms resting on beams  210 ,  212 . Beams  210 ,  212  may be retained in the relative positions shown respectively in FIGS. 6 and 7 by close tolerances or they may be urged to the FIG. 6 position by a spring so that force would be required to bring them to the FIG. 7 position and the force exerted by the weight of the bottle would retain them in the FIG. 7 position. 
     In FIGS. 10 and 11 are illustrated a support rock which can be attached to and made part of a container. As seen in FIG. 10 rack  300  includes support blocks  302 ,  304 . Extending between support blocks  302 ,  304  is support beam  306  which may comprise wire, plastic rod, metal rod or other suitable objects. At a lower elevation than rod  306  is support plane defining structure  308 . In the FIG. 10 embodiment support plane defining structure comprises a rod which has been shaped to form a U with ends which turn inwardly into the support blocks. Ends  310  of support plane defining structure  308  pivot within support blocks  302 ,  304 . 
     Support blocks  302 ,  304  may be adhered to the surface  320  of a wall of bottle  322 , as seen in FIG.  11 . Wall  320  may be adjacent a wall in which is disposed a dispensing opening, which may include a valve or spigot. 
     Upon dispensing, bottle  322  rests on wall  320  and support block  302 ,  304 . The presence of support blocks extending from wall  320 , by themselves, results in a slight incline with respect to the horizontal as seen in FIG.  12 . When dispensing even at this angle becomes difficult, support plane forming structure  308  may be pivoted so that it rests against support bar  306 , thus providing even further elevation to one end of wall  320  and thereby providing even further angle to the dispensing of product by spigot  340 . 
     It should be understood, of course, that the specific forms of the invention herein illustrated and described are intended to be representative only as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.