Bar bottle

A dispensing bottle has a spout formed integrally with a neck that extends to a body of the bottle. The spout comprises first and second passages oriented at an angle to the neck. A partition inside the neck forms an extension of the second passage. The partition extends at least to a base of the neck such that air entering the second passage is carried through the neck and released into the body of the bottle. The bottle may have first and second parts detachably affixed together.

FIELD

This invention relates to bottles suitable for dispensing beverages. Bottles according to the invention may be used by a bartender to dispense beverages such as mixers, juices, and the like.

SUMMARY

This invention has various aspects as discussed below. One aspect provides bar bottles that can be used for dispensing beverages. Specific aspects of the invention provide:Bar bottles;Components for bar bottles comprising integrated pour spouts.

One aspect provides a dispensing bottle comprising a neck and a body joined to a base of the neck. The body is larger in cross-section than the neck. A spout at an end of the neck remote from the body comprises at least a first passage and a second passage parallel to the first passage and smaller in cross-section than the first passage. The first and second passages are oriented at an angle to a longitudinal centerline of the neck. A partition is integrally formed with the neck and the spout. The partition is connected to the spout between the first and second passages and extends continuously along the neck from the spout to an opening at the base of the neck. The partition forms a continuation of the second passage.

The partition may be tapered in thickness such that parts of the partition closer to the spout are thicker than parts of the partition closer to the body and/or the extension of the second passage formed by the partition may be tapered such that a cross-section area of the portion of the extension of the second passage closer to the body is larger than a cross section area of the extension of the second passage closer to the spout.

A wall of the body of the bottle adjacent to the opening formed by the partition at the base of the neck may be oriented generally parallel to the first and second passages of the spout.

In some embodiments, in a cross-section of the neck and partition the pa Con is arcuate and joined along opposing edges to a wall of the neck.

An outer surface of the neck may be textured at least in a portion near the end of the neck remote from the body. The texture may be provided by features such as: circumferential grooves, roughness, points, bumps, indentations or the like. For example, the outer surface of the neck may be textured by a pattern of grooves extending circumferentially around the neck.

An enlarged-diameter portion may he provided at the end of the neck remote from. the body.

Some embodiments include an elastomeric sleeve at least partially covering the textured portion of the neck. The elastomeric sleeve may comprise a colored silicone material.

Some embodiments provide a bottle according to any described embodiment in combination with a set comprising a plurality of colored elastic sleeves. The plurality of elastic sleeves comprises elastic sleeves of a plurality of colors, each of the sleeves being dimensioned to resiliently slip over the neck of the bottle and to securely engage around the neck. Where the neck has an enlarged-diameter portion at or near its end the sleeves may be dimensioned to slip over the enlarged diameter portion and to engage the neck below the enlarged diameter portion. The elastic sleeves may comprise a colored silicone material, for example.

In some embodiments the body of the bottle comprises first and second detachable parts. The first part may be formed integrally with the neck and spout. The first and second parts may be detachably coupled together at a threaded coupling in a cylindrical portion of the body. In some embodiments all or part of the second portion of the body is transparent or translucent.

Some embodiments comprise a cover having a diameter larger than the body. The cover may be detachably affixed to a bottom end of the body. The cover may, for example, snap, grippingly receive and/or screw onto the bottom end of the body.

In any of the above embodiments the outer surfaces of the body and neck may be circularly symmetrical about a common axis coincident with the longitudinal centerline of the neck.

In an example embodiment the first part of the body, the neck and the spout are formed of injection-molded plastic.

In some embodiments the angle between the first and second passages and the longitudinal centerline of the neck is in the range of 20 to 60 degrees, about 45 degrees plus or minus 6 degrees in some embodiments.

Further aspects and example embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or described in the following description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows a bar bottle10according to an example embodiment of the invention. Bar bottle10includes an upper portion12removably attached to a lower portion14at a coupling13. Coupling13may, for example, comprise screw threads13A (seeFIG. 2). Coupling13is designed to avoid leakage of the contents of bottle10. For example, an angled surface11may be provided adjacent to the inner threads on top portion12. This angled surface may create a water-tight seal when top portion12and lower portion14are screwed together. The angled surface may sealingly contact an outer edge of the top of lower portion14. The angled surface may optionally also serve as a transition area between a thread area of top portion12which may have a wall that is thinner than a wall of an adjacent part of top portion12. The mating of an angled surface with an edge allows for robust sealing. Other sealing designs may be used (e.g. providing a V-seal, O-ring or the like). Threads13A are preferably multi-start threads (e.g. double-start threads). This allows top portion12and lower portion14to be screwed together quickly. As an example, dual-start threads may be provided such that the top portion12and lower portion14are fully coupled in approximately 1-2 turns (e.g. 1 ¼ turns).

Lower portion14may be entirely or in part transparent so that a user can see how full bottle10is, as well as ascertain the nature of the fluid being contained by bottle10. In some embodiments lower portion14is made from a transparent grade of polypropylene (PP).

An optional cover16is detachably provided on the lower end of bottle10. Cover16may provide a stable base for bottle10and may be removable to facilitate tightly stacking a plurality of bottles10for storage, either in a vertical or horizontal orientation.

Top portion12includes a neck12A which joins an enlarged portion12B at a base12C of neck12A.

In the illustrated embodiment, neck12A has a textured portion12B to facilitate gripping neck12A in order to pour contents from bottle10. An expanded diameter portion12E helps to prevent dropping bottle10. An elastomeric sleeve30(seeFIG. 5) may optionally be slipped over neck12A. The elastomeric sleeve may engage on textured portion12D and may abut against the lower side of enlarged diameter portion12E.

In some embodiments, colour-coded silicone sleeves are provided such that different colours identify bottles10having different contents. A bottle10may be provided in combination with a set comprising a plurality of differently-coloured interchangeable elastomeric sleeves. The elastomeric sleeves may each be dimensioned to slip over enlarged diameter portion12E and to snuggly hold against textured portion12B.

Bottle10includes a pour spout20which is integrated with upper part12of bottle10. Pour spout20includes a channel20A through which liquids may flow out of bottle10and an air channel20B which allows air to enter bottle10to make up for the loss of volume of fluid as fluid is being dispensed. Channel20A and channel20B may respectively be called first and second channels. Air channel20B helps to reduce or eliminate “glugging” as liquid is dispensed from bottle10.

FIG. 2shows in more detail the integration of pour spout20into bottle10. As seen inFIG. 2, passages20A and20B extend at an angle θ to a longitudinal centre line15of neck12A. In some embodiments, θ is in the range of 20° to 60°. For example, θ may be 45°±6°. A divider or partition21extends along neck12A to an inner opening23that is at least at base12C of neck12A. Partition21provides a continuation or extension of air passage20B that extends at least substantially all the way along neck12A. The remainder of the interior of the bore of neck12A provides a passage22A through which liquids can flow from body12B to passage20A.

Air channel20B may be smaller in diameter than main channel20A. Air channel20B is above main channel20A when bottle10is standing upright, as shown inFIG. 1. In the illustrated embodiment, both of air channel20B and main channel20A are round in cross-section. One or both of channels20A and20B may optionally have other cross-sectional shapes.

In the illustrated embodiment, partition21and neck12A and dispensing spout20are all integrally formed, for example by a plastic injection moulding process. Partition21may be tapered in thickness such that its inner end at opening23is thinner than its upper end where passage20A turns to become passage20B. Passage21A may be generally tapered such that the cross-sectional area of passage21A increases slightly as one travels from the point of intersection with passage20B to opening23.

In some embodiments, the entire upper portion12of bottle10is injection moulded as a single unitary piece.

Apart from providing cost-effective constructions, injection moulding upper part12of bottle10provides a number of advantages. These include the absence of cracks or crevices in which pathogens could collect, as well as providing a lightweight construction.

In some embodiments, all of bottle10is made of impact-resistant plastic materials. In some embodiments, bottle10, as illustrated inFIG. 1, is made of only three separate pieces: top part12, bottom part14, and optional cap portion16.

In some embodiments, a ratio of the length to the diameter of neck12A is at least 2:1. In some embodiments, a ratio of the cross-section of expanded portion12B to neck12A is at least 4:1.

In some embodiments, opening23lies at an inflection point on the surface of bottle10where the surface of bottle10forms an angle φ with a centre line of passage21A. φ may be approximately the same as θ such that, when bottle10is held to dispense a fluid with nozzle20oriented generally vertically, the wall of bottle10adjacent to opening23of passage21A is also approximately vertically oriented.

Outer walls of the body and neck may follow surfaces of revolution about a common axis.

Interpretation Of Terms