Abstract:
A container or pitcher is provided having a flexible side wall portion and rim portion of the container which can conform to the shape of an object to which the pitcher is applied to thereby direct fluid flow from the pitcher over a broader area and to prevent fluid from flowing from the pitcher and underneath the rim of the pitcher and onto portions of the object to which it is not desirable to apply the fluid.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to containers, specifically containers used to hold fluids and, in particular, a container having a flexible side wall portion and rim portion which is capable of conforming to the shape of an object to which the pitcher is applied to more particularly direct the flow of fluid from the pitcher and to prevent the flow of fluid from the pitcher and onto areas to which application of the fluid is not intended.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    When using pitchers to pour fluids, it is frequently desired to pour a stream of the fluid into a specific location, such as a glass or other container. Alternatively, it may be useful to use a container or a pitcher that does not provide an actual spout, but rather, simply has a rim when it is desired to pour a greater amount of fluid or broader stream of fluid onto an object such as when rinsing a floor or an automobile. However, both of these types of containers and pouring operations present specific drawbacks to particular applications. For example, when using a pitcher having a spout, the fluid that is poured from the pitcher can only be applied to a particular area, specifically, that area determined by the stream of fluid as it exits the spout. While this is useful for pouring water into a glass, another container or a specific area, it is not useful for applying the fluid to a larger area. Also, the use of a spout while narrowing the stream of water, nevertheless, provides a narrow column-like stream of water which, when it contacts the object or container toward which it is directed, will flow in all directions.  
           [0003]    The other case of pouring a fluid from a container—that is the case of a bucket or other broad-rimmed container—also presents limitations with respect to the pouring of a fluid. In the case of a bucket or a pitcher having no spout, the water will flow from the pitcher over the rim or edge of the pitcher and create a broad stream of fluid flowing from the pitcher which will be related to the angle of the longitudinal axis of the pitcher as it moves from vertical to horizontal. To state the obvious, when the longitudinal axis of the pitcher (that is the axis passing through the bottom of the pitcher and the top of the pitcher) is parallel to vertical, no fluid will flow from the pitcher. As the longitudinal axis is tilted increasingly toward a horizontal plane, more and more fluid will flow over the rim of the pitcher, and the stream flowing from the pitcher will be increasingly wide. While such a spoutless pitcher, such as a bucket, provides a wide stream of fluid which is useful in, for example, rinsing an area, there is still no control over the distribution of that stream over the object on which it is poured. Specifically, if a stream of water is poured from a bucket, when the stream of water contacts the object on which it is poured, the water will flow in all directions and will not be limited to a single direction of flow. Even if the rim of the pitcher is pressed directly against the object onto which the fluid is to flow, the fluid will flow back toward the pitcher and underneath the pitcher and onto portions of the object which are near the side wall of the pitcher.  
           [0004]    In the specific case of rinsing shampoo and other hair treatments from the head of a child, this “backflow” from a pitcher can provide compelling support for the Victorian premise that children should be seen and not heard. Specifically, the backflow of rinse water from a pitcher that is used to dip bath water and to lift it to rinse the head of a child can cause shampoo and other hair and scalp treatments to flow down the forehead of the child and into the eyes and face of the child. This will cause the child to notify the parent of the situation through loud screams, tears and arm movements. The prospect of rinsing soap suds into the eyes and mouth and nose of a child is not pleasant for either the parent or the child and can lead to difficulties as bath time approaches. Usually it is the case that the best of attempts to try to limit this problem are unsuccessful. Asking the child to close his or her eyes tightly while the rinsing is proceeding will be only partially successful. The child, for one reason or another, may open their eyes during the rinsing procedure whereupon the soapy water contacts and stings their eyes. Alternatively, the child may improperly time the closing of their eyes with the application of the rinse water and receive a stinging realization of their incapacity to coordinate their eyelid movements. Even should the parent attempt to assist the situation by placing a hand across the forehead of the child, some soapy water will inevitably trickle down the forehead of the child and into the child&#39;s eyes, mouth or nose.  
           [0005]    Therefore, it would be a great benefit if a rinse container or pitcher could be provided which would prevent the flow of rinse water from a rinse pitcher or container and back underneath the rim of the container thereby providing specific, directional application of rinse water to an object such as a child&#39;s head.  
           [0006]    Yet another benefit would be obtained from a pitcher or rinse container which could provide a broad flow of rinse water to an object to more efficiently rinse the object and while providing means for directing the flow of the rinse water from the pitcher and onto the object while preventing the backflow of rinse water onto areas of the object to which rinse water is not intended to be applied.  
           [0007]    It would still be a further benefit if such a pitcher or rinsing container could conform to the shape of the object to which the rinse water in the pitcher was to be applied thereby restricting the portions of the object which will receive rinse water from those portions of the object which will not receive rinse water. These objects and benefits and more are provided by the present invention which is more completely described hereinafter.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention solves the preceding problems and improves the state of the art by providing a pitcher for holding solutions such as rinse water or shampoo or other liquids to allow application of those liquids to a localized portion of the body such as the head. The present invention provides a flexible panel and/or flexible rim portion of the container which conforms to the shape of the an object, such as the head of an individual, to allow application of the fluid to the body and to prevent misapplication of the fluid by preventing fluid from flowing underneath the rim and onto body parts to which it is not desired to apply the fluid.  
           [0009]    In one embodiment, the invention provides a flexible panel which can conform to the shape of the child&#39;s head or other object to effectively seal off passage of fluids back under the flexible rim thereby allowing application of the fluid, such as rinse water, to the child&#39;s hair while preventing the flow of rinse water and a rinse water-shampoo mixture down into the child&#39;s face and eyes.  
           [0010]    These other objects are intended to be illustrative of the invention and are not meant in a limiting sense. Many possible embodiments of the invention may be made and will be evident upon a study of the following specification and accompanying drawings. Various features and subcombinations of invention may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of this invention.  
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    Preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best modes in which the applicant has contemplated applying the principles, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a top and side perspective view of the pitcher of the present invention showing the flexible panel which comprises a portion of the side wall of the container and the top edge of the side wall of the container;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a top and interior perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 and showing the flexible wall opposite the handle;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 shows the application of an embodiment of the invention to the head of a child to allow water to flow over the child&#39;s hair and back of the head while the flexible panel and flexible rim conform to the shape of the child&#39;s head and prevents water from flowing down the front of the child&#39;s head and into the child&#39;s eyes and face; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of FIG. 4 having a flexible panel and flexible rim and showing the panel and rim in a depressed position and showing the panel and rim in phantom lines in a relaxed or undepressed position.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]    Referring now to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the inventive container  10  is shown which is comprised of generally continuous side wall  12  which can be of any convenient shape, spanning shapes from square to circular to polygonal. Continuous side wall  12  terminates at either end in upper side wall end  14  and lower side wall end  16 . Continuous side wall  12  can be formed of rubber or plastic or metal or wood or any material which will serve to hold a fluid within continuous side wall  12 . Connected to lower side wall end  16  is bottom or bottom panel  18  (FIG. 2) which serves to close lower side wall end  16  thereby allowing a fluid to be held within continuous side wall  12  and bottom  18 . It will be appreciated that, depending on the material used for the construction of side wall  12 , bottom  18  could be constructed with the forming of side wall  12  thus forming a unitary construction of side wall  12  and bottom  18 . As shown in FIG. 1, upper side wall end  14 , depending on the material used for the construction of side wall  12 , can form in and of itself a side wall rim  20 , or an additional structure  20  (FIG. 3) can be attached to upper side wall end  14  to form a discreet side wall rim  20  (FIG. 3). Generally, side wall rim  20  will take the shape of upper side wall end  14 , however, alternatively, decorative materials could be used to modify the shaping of side wall rim  20 . For further convenience, and depending on the size of container  10 , a handle  22  can be attached to side wall  12  to assist in the manipulation of container  10 .  
         [0017]    Side wall rim  20 , in a preferred embodiment is comprised of side wall portion  24 , which is a generally flat portion of side wall rim  20  and which may, therefore, differ, generally, in its shape as compared to the remainder of side wall rim  12  and side wall  20 . For example, if side wall  12 , in its construction, comprises a cylindrical container, then side wall rim  20  will be comprised of a generally circular side wall rim portion  26  and a generally flat side wall rim portion or side wall segment or rim segment  24 . The utility and benefits of generally flat rim segment  24  will be described hereinafter. In a preferred embodiment, and in the vicinity of generally flat side wall rim portion  24 , is flexible panel  28  which extends from side wall  12  toward generally flat side wall rim segment  24  to connect side wall  12  with rim segment  24 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that flexible panel  28  and rim segment  24  can be comprised of the same materials or of different materials depending on the choice of construction. For example, flexible panel  28  may be thin flexible plastic, or a flexible rubber panel, or a waterproof canvas which is attached to side wall  12  and which extends upwardly toward upper side wall end  14  to connect with or form side wall rim segment  24 . In such a construction, rim segment  24  could be of a different material which connects with flexible panel  28  or, for example, if a waterproof canvas were used, the canvas could be wrapped over a flexible cord or wire which would form rim segment  24 . Therefore, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that one of the objects of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a flexible, shapable wall segment  30  of either side wall  12  or rim  20 , or both rim  20  and side wall  12  which can conform to the shape of an object against which this flexible portion of container  10  is pressed.  
         [0018]    Referring now to FIG. 4, the flexibility and construction of the novel flexible side wall portion and rim portion of container  10  will be further described. As is shown in FIG. 4, flexible panel  28  and rim segment  24  are deformable and can be pressed inwardly from the position shown in phantom lines and toward the interior of container  10 . The benefits of this flexibility or malleability of flexible panel  28  and rim segment  24  are that the pouring portion of side wall rim  20 , which is generally rim segment  24 , can be formed, by compression of container  10  against the object on which fluid is to be poured, to the shape of the object which is to receive the fluid which is within container  10 . Referring to both FIGS. 3 and 4, it is shown that flexible panel  28  and side wall rim  24  are capable of deformation inwardly. This feature of container  10  allows container  10  to be placed against an object, in this case, the forehead of a child (FIG. 3) to have flexible panel  28  and side wall rim  24  registerably mate with the head of the child to provide a wide pouring spout and wide volume of fluid therefor which can be evacuated from container  10  and poured onto the head of the child to rinse the hair of the child.  
         [0019]    It will further be appreciated that it is the flexible character of panel  28  and side wall rim  24  which allow for the registerable mating of the flexible portion of container  10 . Flexible wall portion  30  (FIGS. 1 and 4), made up of flexible panel  28  and side wall rim segment  24 , conforms to the shape of the object or, in this case, the head of a child onto which fluid is to be poured from container  10  and thus, reducing or preventing the flow of fluid from container  10  and back under side wall rim  24  and panel  28 . This benefit is particularly useful with respect to rinsing shampoo or other hair products from the hair of a child. The prevention of rinse fluid from draining underneath the side wall rim of a container to allow the rinse fluids and shampoo to run down the forehead of a child and into the eyes, nose and mouth prevent the unpleasantness of eyes stinging from the shampoo or other product being rinsed from the child&#39;s hair. The construction of flexible wall portion  30  can be continuous between panel  28  and rim segment  24  (FIGS. 1 and 2), or flex panel  28  and rim  24  can be separate constructions which join together FIGS. 3 and 4 to provide a flexible rim segment and side wall portion of container  10 . For example, flex panel  28  could be formed from a flexible plastic, or a rubber panel or a waterproof cloth panel which connects with a rim segment  24  which is constructed of a flexible wire covered with sponge or covered with rubber or covered  11  with a waterproof fabric. Alternatively, rim segment  24  could be a piece of rubber or piece of sponge which is placed across a rigid portion of side wall  12  which comprises any portion of side wall rim  20 . In this construction, only the malleable or flexible rim segment  24  would conform to the shape of the object against which container  10  is pressed. In this embodiment only rim segment  24  is flexible and no flex panel is provided to connect between side wall  12  and rim segment  24 . In such an embodiment, side wall  12  continues to join rim segment  24 , and the flexible, malleable aspect is contained solely within side wall rim segment  24 .  
         [0020]    As has been described, the benefits of the present invention are achieved by a container having a flexible side wall segment and/or a flexible rim segment which allow close contact of the container with an object or the head of a child to prevent the wash back or flow of fluid from the container underneath the rim and side wall of the container, and which, thereby when rinsing the head of a child, prevents soapy water from getting into the eyes and face of the child. Further, the present invention, as previously described, allows the flexible portion of the container to mold to a shape against which it is pressed and to allow large volumes of fluid to be passed from the container onto the object by virtue of the generally flat rim segment which may contain a rubber cushion to ease contact with the head. It will further be appreciated that in an alternative embodiment of this invention, the side wall could be provided with a concave portion which would generally conform to the curvature of a child&#39;s head and the side wall would be provided with a malleable rim segment on the concave side wall portion. The malleable rim segment portion would more closely register with the child&#39;s head than with the concave side wall segment thereby directing the flow of water over the child&#39;s head and preventing the flow of water back underneath the side wall of the container.  
         [0021]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present inventions are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.  
         [0022]    In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the description and illustration of the inventions is by way of example, and the scope of the inventions is not limited to the exact details shown or described.  
         [0023]    Certain changes may be made in embodying the above invention, and in the construction thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not meant in a limiting  11  sense.  
         [0024]    Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the inventive container or pitcher is constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction, and advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts and combinations, are set forth in the appended claims.  
         [0025]    It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.