Abstract:
A squeeze bottle having a container and a cap for containing and dispensing a viscous liquid such as a food condiment or sauce. The container is constructed of a transparent flexible plastic material including a container colorant. The cap is positioned on the container. The cap is constructed of a rigid plastic material including a cap colorant matching the container colorant. The cap includes a tip to allow flow of the viscous liquid from the container through the cap.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to squeeze bottles. More particularly, the invention is directed to a squeeze bottle for containing and dispensing a viscous liquid such as food condiments and sauces.  
         [0002]     It has been found that there are problems with the matching of caps and containers for squeeze bottles. There have also been problems with identifying the types of condiments or sauces contained in squeeze bottles that have been grouped together. Several attempts have been made to identify contents by using labels or markings. Small identification collars have also been used between containers and caps. These methods are faulty because the labels and markings fall off, wear off or become unreadable. In the case of the identification collars, there is no assurance that the cap and appropriate container become reunited after cleaning. These methods often result in additional cost and labor.  
         [0003]     In some cases, such as with ketchup and mustard, the cap and the container have been colored opaque red and yellow, respectively. These types of bottles have failed to provide a system of coordination for the many other condiments and sauces that are now being used in addition to ketchup and mustard. Further, the opaque materials used for the containers of these types of squeeze bottles make it visually impossible to ascertain the amount of the condiment or sauce left in the container. This requires the operator to physically open the squeeze bottle or pick up the squeeze bottle to determine the amount. Accordingly, there is a need for a squeeze bottle that eliminates the above-identified problems. The present invention satisfies this need.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention is directed to a squeeze bottle for containing and dispensing a viscous liquid such as a food condiment or sauce. The squeeze bottle includes a container constructed of a substantially transparent flexible plastic material. A container colorant is included in the flexible plastic material.  
         [0005]     The squeeze bottle further includes a cap positioned on the container. The cap is constructed of a rigid plastic material. A cap colorant that matches the container colorant is included in the rigid plastic material. The cap has a tip to allow flow of the viscous liquid from the container through the cap.  
         [0006]     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a squeeze bottle for containing and dispensing a viscous liquid that includes a container constructed of a substantially transparent colored flexible plastic material and a matching cap.  
         [0007]     Other objects and advantages of the present invention shall become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a squeeze bottle according to the present invention that includes the symbol for yellow;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a first side elevational view thereof;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a back elevational view thereof;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a second side elevational view thereof;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a top view thereof;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view thereof;  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a second embodiment squeeze bottle according to the present invention that includes the symbol for red;  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a third embodiment squeeze bottle according to the present invention that includes the symbol for green;  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is a fourth embodiment squeeze bottle according to the present invention that includes the symbol for brown; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 10  is a detailed view of the container and the cap of a squeeze bottle according to the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]     The preferred embodiments and best mode of the present invention will now be d scribed in detail with reference being made to the drawings. The squeeze bottle according to the present invention is indicated generally in the drawings by the reference number “10”.  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , the squeeze bottle  10  includes a container  12  having a cylindrical wall  14  that extends longitudinally along an axis A-A, a base  16  and a top  18 . The container  12  is constructed of a transparent flexible plastic material that includes a container colorant at a predetermined ratio with respect to the flexible plastic material. The term “transparent” as used herein is defined as the ability to see through an object.  
         [0020]     In a preferred embodiment, the flexible plastic material of the container  12  is a clarified low-density polyethylene (LDPE). It has been found that LDPE provides the necessary flexibility to allow the container  12  to be squeezed while allowing it to retract to its original position. This material is also important because it allows the container  12  to be transparent.  
         [0021]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , a container colorant such as a yellow pigment is included in the flexible plastic material at a predetermined ratio with respect to the flexible plastic material. In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined ratio is in a range from about 1% to about 4%, by volume, of the container colorant to the flexible plastic material. It has been found that this predetermined ratio allows the plastic material of the container  12  to be transparent while allowing the plastic material to have a yellow color, tint or tone.  
         [0022]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cylindrical wall  14  includes volumetric indicia in both standard and metric units of measurement. The container  12  can be a variety of shapes and sizes. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the container  12  has a 24-ounce capacity.  
         [0023]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the wall  14  of the container  12  includes one or more gripping members  22 . In a preferred embodiment, each side of the container  12  includes five gripping members  22  that are opposed to one another. The gripping members  22  allow the contain r  12  to be firmly held by the operator.  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5  and  10 , the squeeze bottle  10  includes a cap  30  positioned on the container  12 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the top  18  of the container  12  includes a cylindrical neck  32  that extends along axis A-A. The neck  32  has an exterior surface  34  that includes threads  36 . The neck  32  includes a neck opening  38  that provides an opening to the interior  40  of the container  12 . The cap  30  includes threads  42  that are sized and adapted to mate with the threads  36  of the neck  32 . As it will be appreciated, this allows the cap  30  to be attached to the neck  32 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cap  30  includes one or more friction members  44  to allow an operator to firmly grasp the cap  30 .  
         [0025]     Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 10 , the cap  30  includes a conically shaped tip  46  that extends longitudinally along axis A-A. The tip  46  includes one or more guides  48  for cutting the tip to create an opening. The guides  48  can be used to create either a small opening near the top of the tip  46  or a large opening near the bottom of the tip due to the conical shape of the tip. Other openings can be made between the top and the bottom of the tip  46 . In an alternate embodiment, the tip  46  can be precut at the place of manufacture.  
         [0026]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cap  30  is constructed of a rigid plastic material that includes a cap-colorant that matches the container colorant. In a preferred embodiment, the rigid plastic material is an opaque high-density polyethylene (HDPE). It has been found that HDPE is suitable because it is durable and long lasting.  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , the cap  30  includes a cap colorant such as a yellow pigment to match the container colorant of the container  12 . In this embodiment, the squeeze bottle  10  as shown in  FIGS. 1-6  is particularly applicable to contain and dispense mustard. An operator would quickly and easily recognize the yellow-colored container  12  and the matching cap  30  as a squeeze bottle for mustard. An operator would also be able to readily determine the amount of mustard in the transparent container  12 . The tip  46  of the cap  30  can be cut to allow a desired flow of mustard from the container  12  through the tip  46 . When the squeeze bottle  10  is cleaned, the container  12  can be easily and quickly matched with the cap  30  having the desired opening in the tip  46 . In addition to the functional features, the squeeze bottle  10  has a pleasing aesthetic appearance.  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a second embodiment squeeze bottle  10  is shown. In this embodiment, the container colorant of the container  12  and the cap colorant of the cap  30  are red pigments. This allows the second embodiment to be particularly applicable for use with ketchup.  
         [0029]     A third embodiment squeeze bottle  10  is shown in  FIG. 8 . In this embodiment, the container colorant of the container  12  and the cap colorant of the cap  30  are green pigments. The third embodiment is particularly applicable for use with relish.  
         [0030]     A fourth embodiment squeeze bottle  10  is shown in  FIG. 9 . In this embodiment, the container colorant of the container  12  and the cap colorant of the cap  30  are brown pigments. The fourth embodiment squeeze bottle  10  is particularly applicable for use with barbeque sauce.  
         [0031]     It should be understood that a squeeze bottle  10  according to the present invention can include a wide variety of container and cap colorants. Accordingly, the colorants are not limited to the four colorants described above.  
         [0032]     The above detailed description of the present invention is given for explanatory purposes. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the whole of the foregoing description is to be construed in an illustrative and not a limitative sense, the scope of the invention being defined solely by the appended claims.