Abstract:
An accessory holder, a system and a method holds and/or stores an accessory, such as, a doser for medicine, with a bottle. The accessory holder is attachable to a bottle, such as, for example, a medicine bottle. The accessory holder has a container segment to receive the accessory. The container segment holds and/or stores the accessory with the bottle such that the accessory is prevented from being separated, lost and/or contaminated while not in use.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/662,153, filed Jun. 20, 2012. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, a system and a method for holding an item. More specifically, the present invention relates to an accessory holder, a system and a method for holding and/or storing an accessory that may be used in conjugation with a bottle, such as, for example, a doser, a pipette, an eyedropper, a paintbrush, a paint stirrer, a paint scraper, a spoon, a fork, a knife, a pair of chopsticks, a straw, a skewer, a stirrer, a baster, a measuring spoon, a toothbrush, a dental tool, a cosmetic product applicator, a sponge, a scrubber and/or a cleaning supply product applicator. The accessory holder, the system and the method is attachable to a bottle such as, for example, a medicine bottle, a solvent bottle, a beaker, a paint can or bottle, a cup, a glass, a bowl, a coffee mug, a food carton, a drink bottle, a tube of toothpaste, a mouthwash bottle, a rinse cup, a cosmetic product bottle, and/or a cleaning supply bottle. The accessory holder may have a container segment accessible through an opening and sized to hold and/or store one or more bottle accessories. Further, the accessory holder may be manufactured from a flexible material. Moreover, the accessory holder may be disposable. 
         [0003]    It is generally known that a doser is used to measure and/or dose a volume of a liquid medicine and/or a vitamin to a child, an adult and/or an animal. Often, the liquid medicine and/or vitamin is contained within a bottle, and the doser is used to draw the liquid medicine and/or vitamin from the bottle. The drawn medicine and/or vitamin may then be administered to the child, adult or animal. 
         [0004]    As a result, for the simplified measuring and/or dosing of the medicine and/or vitamin, a user often stores the doser near the medicine bottle, such as, for example, inside a medicine drawer or a cabinet. However, as the doser is often placed separately from the medicine bottle, the doser is often lost or misplaced. Further, the doser may become fouled and/or contaminated if placed on a non-sterile surface, such as, for example, a table, a cabinet, a drawer or a countertop. As a consequence, the user must purchase multiple dosers in anticipation of a lost and/or contaminated doser. This creates added cost, waste and/or inconvenience. 
         [0005]    This inherent issue of a lost and/or fouled bottle accessory is a common problem faced by users of many types of bottle accessories. Examples may include an eating or cooking utensil such as, for example, a spoon, a fork, a knife, a pair of chopsticks, a straw, a skewer, a stirrer, a baster, and/or a measuring spoon used to consume, stir, measure and/or dispense food or ingredients within a drinking cup, a bowl, a coffee mug, a food carton, and/or a drink bottle. Other examples may include a toothbrush or a dental tool used to apply toothpaste or used with a mouthwash or a rinse cup. Other household examples may include a cosmetic product applicator used to apply a cosmetic product and/or a sponge, a scrubber, and/or an applicator used to apply a cleaning solvent or chemical are often misplaced. Further examples may include a paintbrush, a paint stirrer and/or a paint scraper used to apply, stir or manipulate paint within a paint can or a bottle are often dirtied and/or fouled. 
         [0006]    A need, therefore, exists for an accessory holder, a system and a method for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory, such as, for example, a doser, with a bottle, such as, for example, a medicine bottle. Further, a need exists for an accessory holder, a system and a method for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory with a bottle wherein the accessory holder has a container segment having a volume sized to receive a bottle accessory, such as, for example, a doser. Further, a need exists for an accessory holder, a system and a method for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory with a bottle wherein the accessory holder is attachable to the medicine bottle. Further, a need exists for an accessory holder, a system and a method for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory with a bottle wherein the accessory holder is disposable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention generally relates to an accessory holder, a system and a method for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory with a bottle. More specifically, the present invention relates to an accessory holder, a system and a method for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory, such as, for example, a doser, a pipette, an eyedropper, a paintbrush, a paint stirrer, a paint scraper, a spoon, a fork, a knife, a pair of chopsticks, a straw, a skewer, a stirrer, a baster, a measuring spoon, a toothbrush, a dental tool, a cosmetic product applicator, a sponge, a scrubber and/or a cleaning supply product applicator with a bottle or a container. The bottle may be, for example, a medicine bottle, a solvent bottle, a beaker, a paint can or bottle, a cup, a glass, a bowl, a coffee mug, a food carton, a drink bottle, a tube of toothpaste, a mouthwash bottle, a rinse cup, a cosmetic product bottle, and/or a cleaning supply product bottle. Further, the accessory holder may have a container segment with a volume wherein the volume may be accessible through an opening. The container segment may be sized to hold and store one or more bottle accessories. Even further, the accessory holder may be attached to the bottle. Still further, the accessory holder may be manufactured from a flexible material, such as, for example, polypropylene and/or polyethylene. Moreover, the accessory holder may be disposable. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, the accessory holder may have a fastening member with an opening for attaching the accessory holder around a neck of the bottle. The fastening member may have inwardly extending flexible retaining tabs wherein the retaining tabs fasten the accessory holder to the bottle. Further, the retaining tabs may be flexible such that the accessory holder may fit bottle necks of varied shapes and/or sizes. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment, the accessory holder may have an adhesive member, such as, for example, adhesive tape, liquid adhesive or any other type of adhesive member, for attaching the accessory holder to a bottle or a container. 
         [0010]    It is, therefore, an advantage of the present invention to provide an accessory holder, a system and a method for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory with a bottle or a container. 
         [0011]    Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an accessory holder, a system and a method for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory with a bottle or a container, such as, for example, a medicine bottle, a solvent bottle, a beaker, a paint can or bottle, a cup, a glass, a bowl, a coffee mug, a food carton, a drink bottle, a tube of toothpaste, a mouthwash bottle, a rinse cup, a cosmetic product bottle, and/or a cleaning supply bottle. 
         [0012]    And, another advantage of the present invention to provide an accessory holder, a system and a method for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory with a bottle or a container that is attachable to the bottle or the container. 
         [0013]    Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide an accessory holder, a system and a method for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory, such as, for example, a doser, a pipette, an eyedropper, a paintbrush, a paint stirrer, a paint scraper, a spoon, a fork, a knife, a pair of chopsticks, a straw, a skewer, a stirrer, a baster, a measuring spoon, a toothbrush, a dental tool, a cosmetic product applicator, a sponge, a scrubber and/or a cleaning supply product applicator with a bottle or a container. 
         [0014]    And, another advantage of the present invention is to provide an accessory holder, a system and a method for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory with a bottle or a container to prevent the bottle accessory from being lost or misplaced. 
         [0015]    A further advantage of the present invention is to provide an accessory holder, a system and a method for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory with a bottle or a container to prevent the bottle accessory from being fouled or contaminated. 
         [0016]    An even further advantage of the present invention is to provide an accessory holder, a system and a method for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory that is formed from a flexible material. 
         [0017]    A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide an accessory holder, a system and a method for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory that is disposable. 
         [0018]    Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and from the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front perspective view of an accessory holder for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of an accessory holder for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of an accessory holder for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front perspective view of an accessory holder for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  illustrates a rear perspective view of an accessory holder for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  illustrates a front perspective view of an accessory holder for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory in a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of an accessory holder for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  illustrates a rear perspective view of an accessory holder for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  illustrates a top view of an accessory holder for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  illustrates a front view of an accessory holder for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory in an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    The present invention generally relates to an accessory holder, a system and a method for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory with a bottle. More specifically, the present invention relates to an accessory holder, a system and a method for holding and/or storing a bottle accessory, such as, for example, a doser, a pipette and/or an eyedropper with a bottle. The bottle may be, for example, a medicine bottle, a solvent bottle, or a beaker. 
         [0030]    Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts,  FIGS. 1-5  generally illustrate a medicine bottle  2  and a doser holder  10  for holding and/or for storing a doser  60 . The doser  60  may be a conventional oral-type doser. The medicine bottle  2  may be a conventional medicine bottle having a cap  4 , a neck portion  6  and a sidewall  8 . With a conventional medicine bottle, the neck portion  6  may be generally cylindrical with a circular cross-section. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to bottles with cylindrical neck portions and may include neck portions of varied shapes. 
         [0031]    Further, with conventional medicine bottles, the sidewall  8  may have a rectangularly oval cross-section wherein opposing longer edges are straight and disposed adjacent to shorter rounded edges. The rectangularly oval cross-section of sidewall  8  provides a generally flat, planar and vertical surface along the width of the medicine bottle  2 . However, the invention is not limited to bottles with rectangularly oval cross-sections. The invention may include medicine bottles and/or sidewalls of varied cross-sectional shapes, contours and/or profiles, such as cylindrical, cylindrical tapered, triangular and/or any other bottle shape as is known to one having ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0032]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , the doser holder  10  has a fastening member  30  and a container segment  40 . The doser holder  10  may be manufactured from a material. The fastening member  30  and container segment  40  may be an integrally molded unitary piece. Various types of materials may be used to manufacture the doser holder  10 . Suitable examples may include, but are not limited to, polypropylene and/or polyethylene. 
         [0033]    The doser holder  10  may be attached to the medicine bottle  2  by the fastening member  30 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the fastening member  30  may have an opening  32 . To attach the doser holder  10  to the medicine bottle  2 , the top of the medicine bottle  2  may be drawn through the opening  32  until the fastening member  30  is disposed around the neck portion  6 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Similarly, the doser holder  10  may be detached by removing the top of the medicine bottle  2  from the opening  32  until the doser holder  10  is completely separated from the medicine bottle  2 . As will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter, the doser holder  10  may be fastened to or removed from the medicine bottle  2  with or without the cap  4  removed. 
         [0034]    In the preferred embodiment, the opening  32  may be circular to match the shape of the cylindrical cross-section of the neck portion  6 . In addition, the opening  32  may be substantially the same diameter as the neck portion  6 . However, the size and/or shape of the opening  32  may vary to fit bottles having necks of different shapes and/or sizes. Similarly, the opening  32  may be positioned such that the center and/or middle of opening  32  may be offset from the center and/or middle of fastening member  30 . In varying the position of the opening  32  with respect to the center and/or middle of fastening member  30 , the container segment  40  may be positioned adjacent any portion of the sidewall  8 . 
         [0035]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5 , the opening  32  may have flexible retaining tabs  34  that may extend radially inward from an inner edge of the opening  32 . The retaining tabs  34  may allow the fastening member  30  to be attached to the neck portion  6  such that the doser holder  10  may be retained on the medicine bottle  2 . Depending upon the size and/or the diameter of the opening  32  relative to the neck portion  6 , the retaining tabs  34  may be loosely or firmly fastened to the neck portion  6 . If the diameter of the opening  32  is smaller than the diameter of the cross-section of the neck portion  6 , the retaining tabs  34  may twist, stretch and/or bend to elastically conform to the size, shape and/or contours of the neck portion  6 . As a result, the doser holder  10  may be snuggly attached to the medicine bottle  2 . Conversely, if the diameter of the opening  32  is larger than the diameter of the cross-section of the neck portion  6 , the doser holder  10  may be loosely fitted to the medicine bottle  2 . 
         [0036]    Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, the flexibility of the retaining tabs  34  may allow the doser holder  10  to be fastened to or unfastened from the medicine bottle  2  regardless of whether the cap  4  is installed. The retaining tabs  34  may twist, stretch and/or bend to allow the cap  4  to pass through the opening  32  without tearing and/or elastically deforming the doser holder  10 . To provide flexibility, durability and/or strength, the thickness of the material may be in a range from about 0.6 mm to about 2.3 millimeters. Further, the thickness of the material for the fastening member  30  and the retaining tabs  34  may differ from the thickness of the container member  34 . The material for the container member  34  may be thicker for strength and/or durability. The material for the fastening member  30  and the retaining tabs  34  may be thinner for flexibility. 
         [0037]    The flexibility of the retaining tabs  34  may vary according to the size, the shape and/or the number of the retaining tabs  34 . For example, the retaining tabs  34  may be lengthened and/or narrowed to increase flexibility. The increased flexibility provided by long and narrow retaining tabs may be useful when fitted to bottles with caps having large diameter cross-sections. Further, although eight retaining tabs are shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the number of the retaining tabs  34  may be increased or decreased to provide the desired amount of flexibility. Even further, each retaining tab  34  may be asymmetrical in size and/or shape from an adjacent retaining tab. It should be understood to one having ordinary skill in the art that the size, the shape and/or the number of the retaining tabs  34  may be adjusted to provide the desired flexibility. 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , the container segment  40  is attached to the fastening member  30  by a bend  36 . When mounted to the medicine bottle  2 , the bend  36  may allow the container segment  40  to hang from the fastening member  30 . In  FIG. 2 , the bend  36  is shown at generally 90 degrees such that the container segment  40  may rest against the sidewall  8  and may remain substantially vertical. However, the flexibility of the material may also allow the angle of the bend  36  to vary according to the diameter and/or size of the sidewall  8  such that the container segment  40  may rest against the sidewall of a bottle with a smaller diameter or a larger diameter. Further, although the container segment  40  is shown to rest against the sidewall  8 , the container segment  40  may be suspended such that the inner wall  42  does not contact the sidewall  8 . 
         [0039]    The container segment  40  may have a volume defined by an inner wall  42 , a bottom wall  44  and an outer wall  46 . The inner wall  42  may have a length defined between a lower inside edge  50  and the bend  36  and a width defined between outer edges  52 ,  54 . The bottom wall may have a length defined by a lower outside edge  56  and a width defined between the lower inside edge  50  and the lower outside edge  56 . The outer wall  46  may have a length defined between the lower outside edge  56  and an upper outside edge  58  and a width defined between the outer edges  52 ,  54 . The container segment  40  may be sized to accept and/or hold an oral doser. In the preferred embodiment, the container segment  40  may measure approximately 2.25 inches in height, approximately 1.25 inches in width and approximately 0.625 inches in depth. The present invention is not limited to a specific volume, height, width, and/or depth of the container segment  40 . 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the inner wall  42  and/or the lower inside edge  50  may be substantially similar in shape and contour such that the container segment  40  may rest against the sidewall  8 . For example, similar to the flat, planar, and/or vertical surface of the sidewall  8 , the inner wall  42  and/or the lower inside edge  50  may also be flat, planar and/or straight so that the container segment  40  may rest against the sidewall  8  when the doser holder  20  is mounted to the medicine bottle  2 . Additionally, the inner wall  42  and/or the lower inside edge  50  may be concave, convex and/or any shape so as to substantially conform to a bottle with cylindrical, round tapered and/or any other sidewall shape as is known to one having ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0041]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the bottom wall  44  may be a generally flat plane. However, the bottom wall  44  may have a concave, convex and/or contoured surface such that the bottom wall  44  may be substantially similar in shape to the doser  60 . Additionally, the shape of the bottom wall  44  may aid in the positioning of the doser  60  within the container segment  20 . Further, the bottom wall  44  may also have holes or slots (not shown) to allow fluids to drain thereby preventing pooling within the bottom of the container segment  10 . 
         [0042]    In the preferred embodiment, the outer wall  46  may be generally semi-circular in shape. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the container segment  40  narrows at the outer edges  52 ,  54  due to the semi-circular shape of the outer wall  46 . As such, the semi-circular shape may allow the doser  60  to be seated within the center of the container segment  40  in a generally vertical position. Retaining the doser  60  in a generally vertical position may reduce the likelihood for the medicine bottle  2  to tip when the doser  60  is stored within the container segment  40 . However, the present invention is not limited to a specific shape or embodiment of the outer wall  46 . One having ordinary skill in the art will understand that the outer wall  46  may have any shape or contour such that the container segment  40  may hold and/or store the doser  60 . 
         [0043]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the container segment  40  may have an angled opening  48  defined by the upper outside edge  58  of the outer wall  46  and the bend  36 . The angled opening  48  may provide a wider opening and/or angled opening through which the user may insert the doser  60  into the container segment  40 . It should be known to one having ordinary skill in the art that the angled opening  48  may be any angle, shape and/or contour so as to allow the doser  60  to be held and stored in the container segment  40 . 
         [0044]    After the doser holder  10  is fastened to the medicine bottle  2 , the doser  60  may be placed within the container segment  40  and, the medicine bottle  2  and the doser  60  may be stored when not in use. After the completion of the medicine dosing and/or the vitamin dosing, the doser holder  10  may be removed from the medicine bottle  2 . 
         [0045]      FIGS. 6-10  illustrate an alternative embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment differs from the embodiment of  FIG. 1  wherein a doser holder  20  may be fastened to a sidewall  18  of a medicine bottle  12  by an adhesive member  92 . In the preferred embodiment, the adhesive member  92  may be a double-sided adhesive tape having a front adhesive surface  96  and a back adhesive surface  98 . The front adhesive surface  96  may be attached to a container segment  70  and the back adhesive surface  98  may be attached to an adhesive release strip  94 . The adhesive release strip  94  may be removed to expose the back adhesive surface  98  such that the doser holder  20  may be fastened to the sidewall  18 . Additionally, various types of adhesive members may be used, such as, for example, other types of adhesive tape, liquid adhesive or any other type of adhesive members as is known to one having ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0046]    In this embodiment, the medicine bottle  12  may be oval-shaped in cross-section such that the sidewall  18  is round along the periphery of the bottle. However, the invention is not limited to only oval-shaped bottles. The invention may include bottles and/or sidewalls of varied shapes, contours and/or profiles such as cylindrical, rectangularly oval, cylindrical tapered and/or any other bottle shape as is known to one having ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the container segment  70  may have a volume defined by an inner wall  72 , a bottom wall  74  and an outer wall  76 . The inner wall  72  may have a length defined between a lower inside edge  80  and an upper inside edge  90  and a width defined between outer edges  82 ,  84 . The bottom wall may have a length defined by a lower outside edge  86  and a width defined between the lower inside edge  80  and the lower outside edge  86 . The outer wall  76  may have a length defined between the lower outside edge  86  and an upper outside edge  88  and a width defined between the outer edges  82 ,  84 . 
         [0048]    The container segment  70  may have an angled opening  78  defined by the upper outside edge  88  of the outer wall  46  and the upper inside edge  90 . The container segment  70  may be sized to accept and/or to hold an oral doser. In the preferred embodiment, the container segment  70  may measure approximately 2.25 inches in height, approximately 1.25 inches in width and approximately 0.625 inches in depth. The present invention is not limited to a specific volume, height, width and/or depth of the container segment  70 . 
         [0049]    The inner wall  72  may have a concave surface such that the inner wall  72  is substantially similar in shape and/or contour to the rounded sidewall  18  of the medicine bottle  12 . When fastening the concave-shaped container segment  20  to the rounded sidewall  18 , in contrast to a flat planar surface, the concave surface of the inner wall  72  may substantially match the rounded sidewall  18  to provide a greater surface area with which the adhesive member  92  may be bonded. The increased surface area may improve the fastening strength of the adhesive member  92  to ensure that the doser holder  20  may remain firmly attached to the medicine bottle  12  while holding the doser  60 . 
         [0050]    Further, the flexibility provided by the material may allow the inner wall  72  to conform to the curvature and/or the shape of the sidewall  18 . Although the container segment  70  with a substantially inflexible inner wall  72  may initially conform to the curvature of the sidewall  18 , the container segment  70  may revert to its natural shape and pull the inner wall  72  from the sidewall  18 . After separation, the decrease in bonded surface area may result in an insufficient adhesion force between the container segment  70  and the sidewall  18  which may reduce the holding strength of the adhesive member  92 . However, with the flexibility of the container segment  70  and the adhesive strength between the inner wall  72  and the sidewall  18 , the doser holder  20  may remain firmly attached to the bottle  12  while holding and/or storing the doser  60 . To provide flexibility, durability and/or strength, the thickness of the material of container segment  70  may be in a range from about 0.6 mm to about 2.3 millimeters. 
         [0051]    In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the material for the inner wall  72  may differ from the thickness of both the bottom wall  74  and the outer wall  76 . The bottom wall  74  and the outer wall  76  may be thicker to provide strength and durability while the inner wall  72  may be thinner to provide flexibility and ensure that the container segment  70  may conform to the sidewall  18 . The thickness of the material for the inner wall  72  may be in a range from about 0.6 mm to about 2.3 millimeters. The thicknesses of the bottom wall  74  and/or the outer wall  76  may be in a range from about 0.6 mm to about 2.3 millimeters. In addition, the inner wall  72  may have folds, bends, creases slots, and/or holes (not shown) so as to further increase the flexibility of the container segment  70 . 
         [0052]    The accessory holder of the present invention may be sold or otherwise available individually as an after market product for bottles and/or containers. It may also be sold and/or available as an accessory with a doser, a pipette, an eyedropper, a paintbrush, a paint stirrer, a paint scraper, a spoon, a fork, a knife, a pair of chopsticks, a straw, a skewer, a stirrer, a baster, a measuring spoon, a cosmetic product applicator, a sponge and/or a cleaning product applicator, a medicine bottle, a solvent bottle, a beaker, a paint can or bottle, a cup, a glass, a bowl, a coffee mug, a food carton, a drink bottle, a tube of toothpaste, a mouthwash bottle, a rinse cup, a cosmetic product bottle, and/or a cleaning supply bottle. Further, the accessory holder of the present invention may be available in different exterior colors, surface textures, and/or distinguishing indicators so that a user may recognize and/or distinguish between bottles and/or containers. 
         [0053]    Various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is, therefore, intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.