Patent Publication Number: US-2005121450-A1

Title: Interlocking receptacles

Description:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a interlocking receptacles and, in particular, it concerns interlocking receptacles for storing and pouring liquids.  
      Reference is now made to  FIG. 1 , which is an isometric view of a water receptacle system  10  that is constructed and operable in accordance the prior art. By way of introduction, water is often stored in an open storage receptacle  12 , for example a jug or cup, close to ones bed at night for washing ones hands the next morning. This is a common requirement where someone wants to wash his or her hands immediately upon getting up in the morning, for example, as part of a religious practice. In the morning the water is poured from storage receptacle  12  over ones hands into a receiving receptacle  14  having a larger volume than storage receptacle  12 . However, it is common for storage receptacle  12  to get accidentally knocked during the night, spilling the water therefrom. Reference is now made to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 2  is an isometric view of water receptacle system  10  of  FIG. 1  in a first storage configuration.  FIG. 3  is an isometric view of water receptacle system  10  of  FIG. 1  in a second storage configuration. Additionally, there is sometimes a need to keep the water covered at night by either placing receiving receptacle  14  in an upright orientation ( FIG. 2 ) or in an inverted orientation ( FIG. 3 ) on top of storage receptacle  12 , for example, to prevent contamination by poisonous animals or for religious purposes. Therefore, receiving receptacle  14  is commonly used a lid for storage receptacle  12 , making the likelihood of spilling the contents of storage receptacle  12  even greater.  
      There is therefore a need for a system to prevent the water stored in a storage receptacle from spilling at night as well as providing a lid for the storage receptacle. Additionally, there is a need to store water and other liquids for other reasons with a receiving receptacle, for example, but not limited to medical and industrial purposes.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is an interlocking liquid receptacle system and method of operation thereof.  
      According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided a liquid receptacle system for storing and pouring liquid, comprising: (a) a first storage receptacle configured for storing the liquid therein and pouring liquid therefrom, the first storage receptacle having a first storage volume; and (b) a receiving receptacle having a second storage volume which is greater than the first storage volume; the receiving receptacle being configured for receiving the liquid poured from the first storage receptacle, the receiving receptacle having a surface configured to cover the first storage receptacle, the first storage receptacle and the surface of the receiving receptacle having a first set of complementary interlocking features configured for preventing substantial spillage of the liquid stored in the first storage receptacle.  
      According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided a second storage receptacle configured for storing a second liquid therein and pouring therefrom into the receiving receptacle, the second storage receptacle having a third storage volume, a sum of the first storage volume and the third storage volume being less than the second storage volume, the second storage receptacle and the receiving receptacle having a second set of complementary interlocking features configured for preventing substantial spillage of the second liquid stored in the second storage receptacle.  
      According to a further feature of the present invention, the surface is an inner surface of the receiving receptacle.  
      According to a further feature of the present invention, the complementary interlocking features include a first screw thread disposed on the first storage receptacle and a second screw thread disposed on the receiving receptacle.  
      According to a further feature of the present invention, the first storage receptacle has a handle disposed thereon configured for convenient pouring of the liquid from the first storage receptacle.  
      According to a further feature of the present invention, the first storage receptacle has two handles disposed thereon configured for convenient pouring of the liquid from the first storage receptacle.  
      According to a further feature of the present invention: (a) the first storage volume is greater than half a liter; and (b) the receiving receptacle has an opening having a minimum dimension of at least 18 cm.  
      According to the teachings of the present invention there is also provided a method for storing and pouring a liquid, comprising the steps of: (a) disposing the liquid into a storage receptacle; (b) interlocking the storage receptacle with a receiving receptacle in order to prevent substantial spillage of the liquid from the storage receptacle; (c) disconnecting the storage receptacle from the receiving receptacle; and (d) pouring the liquid from the storage receptacle into the receiving receptacle.  
      According to a further feature of the present invention: (a) the liquid is water; and (b) the step of pouring is performed by pouring the water from the storage receptacle over a hand into the receiving receptacle.  
      According to a further feature of the present invention, the step of interlocking is performed by screwing together the storage receptacle and the receiving receptacle. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a water receptacle system that is constructed and operable in accordance the prior art;  
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the water receptacle system of  FIG. 1  in a first storage configuration;  
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the water receptacle system of  FIG. 1  in a second storage configuration;  
       FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a water storage system that is constructed and operable in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the receiving receptacle of the water storage system of  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of  FIG. 5 ;  
       FIG. 7  is an axial cross-sectional view showing the storage receptacle and the receiving receptacle of  FIG. 4  in an interlocked configuration; and  
       FIG. 8  is an axial cross-sectional view showing a system having two storage receptacles and one receiving receptacle that is constructed and operable in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      The present invention is a liquid storage system and method of operation thereof.  
      The principles and operation of a liquid storage system according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.  
      Reference is now made to FIGS.  4  to  7  which are various views of a storage receptacle  104  and a receiving receptacle  102  a water storage system  100  that is constructed and operable in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 4  is an isometric view of water storage system  100 .  FIG. 5  is a top view of receiving receptacle  102  of water storage system  100  of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 7  is an axial cross-sectional view showing storage receptacle  104  and receiving receptacle  102  of  FIG. 4  in an interlocked configuration. Water storage system  100  is a system for storing and pouring water for washing hands. Water storage system  100  includes receiving receptacle  102  and storage receptacle  104 .  
      Storage receptacle  104  is configured for storing water therein and pouring water therefrom over hands into receiving receptacle  102 . Storage receptacle  104  has a storage volume generally between half a liter and 2 liters, preferably 1 liter. The storage volume is defined as the maximum volume of water that is storable in storage receptacle  104 . Storage receptacle  104  is typically a hollow cylinder which is open at one end. Storage receptacle  104  typically has a height between 7 cm and 25 cm, preferably about 12 cm. Storage receptacle  104  typically has a diameter of between 7 cm and 20 cm, preferably about 12 cm. Storage receptacle  104  has two handles  106  disposed thereon configured for convenient pouring of water from storage receptacle  104 . Storage receptacle  104  including handles  106  are typically integrally formed from molded plastic. However, it will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that storage receptacle  104  may be formed from metal, china or other suitable materials.  
      Receiving receptacle  102  is configured for receiving water poured over the hands from storage receptacle  104 . Receiving receptacle  102  has a storage volume defined as the maximum volume of water that is storable in receiving receptacle  102 . The storage volume of receiving receptacle  102  is greater than the storage volume of storage receptacle  104 . The storage volume of receiving receptacle  102  is typically between 2 liters and 8 liters. Receiving receptacle  102  has an opening  110  having a typically diameter (being the minimum dimension of opening  110 ) of between 18 cm and 40 cm, preferably 30 cm. Receiving receptacle  102  typically has a height of between 10 cm and 25 cm, preferably 13 cm. It should be noted that generally the height of receiving receptacle  102  is greater than the height of storage receptacle  104 . However, it will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that the height of storage receptacle  104  can be greater than the height of receiving receptacle  102 . Receiving receptacle  102  has an inside base surface  108  which is configured to cover storage receptacle  104  while water is being stored in storage receptacle  104 . Inside base surface  108  is held against the rim of storage receptacle  104  by complementary interlocking features  112 , as will be described in more detail below. It will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that complementary interlocking features  112  may be disposed on any other surface of receiving receptacle  102  including the outside base surface of receiving receptacle  102 . Receiving receptacle  102  is typically formed from molded plastic. However, it will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that receiving receptacle  102  may be formed from metal or china or another suitable material.  
      Storage receptacle  104  and inside base surface  108  of receiving receptacle  102  have complementary interlocking features  112  configured for: (i) retaining inside base surface  108  against the rim of storage receptacle  104  in order to cover storage receptacle  104 ; and (ii) preventing substantial spillage of water stored in storage receptacle  104 . Complementary interlocking features  112  are typically configured to prevent spillage of any of the water stored in storage receptacle  104 . However, the term “preventing substantial spillage” is defined herein as preventing a possible loss of water greater than half the water storage volume in one day. Complementary interlocking features  112  include a screw thread  114  disposed on the outside of storage receptacle  104  close to the rim of storage receptacle  104  and a screw thread  116  disposed on receiving receptacle  102 . It will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that screw thread  114  may be disposed on the inside surface of storage receptacle  104  close to the rim of storage receptacle  104  and screw thread  116  may be configured to engage screw thread  114  as required. Screw thread  114  and screw thread  116  are configured such that screw thread  114  of storage receptacle  104  is screwed onto screw thread  116  of inside base surface  108  of receiving receptacle  102 . Screw thread  114  and screw thread  116  are typically formed from molded plastic. Screw thread  114  is typically integrally formed with storage receptacle  104  and screw thread  116  is typically integrally formed with receiving receptacle  102 . However, it will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that screw thread  114  and screw thread  116  may be formed from other materials such as metal. Additionally, it will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that screw thread  114  and screw thread  116  may be formed as separate elements from storage receptacle  104  and receiving receptacle  102 , respectively. Screw thread  114  and screw thread  116  are then mechanically connected to storage receptacle  104  and receiving receptacle  102 , respectively, using suitable connection techniques. When screw thread  114  and screw thread  116  and receiving receptacle  102  and storage receptacle  104  are formed from plastic no additional water seal is generally needed to prevent spillage of water from storage receptacle  104 . However, if all the elements of water storage system  100  are not formed from plastic, an additional rubber seal (not shown) either disposed on the rim of storage receptacle  104  or around screw thread  116  on inside base surface  108  may be required to provide additional anti-spill protection. It will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that complementary interlocking features  112  may be implemented in a variety of ways, for example, but not limited to, having a rubber lined groove disposed on/in inside base surface  108  into which the top rim of storage receptacle  104  makes a pressure fit.  
      Water storage system  100  is generally used as follows. First, typically in the evening, water is disposed in storage receptacle  104 . Storage receptacle  104  is then interlocked with receiving receptacle  102  by screwing together storage receptacle  104  and receiving receptacle  102 . In the morning, storage receptacle  104  is unscrewed from receiving receptacle  102 , thereby disconnecting receiving receptacle  102  and storage receptacle  104 . Then, water is poured from storage receptacle  104  over the hands into receiving receptacle  102 .  
      It will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that storage system  100  may be used for storage and receiving of other liquids, for example, but not limited to liquids for medical purposes. For example, storage system  100  may form part of a first aid kit, wherein a disinfecting liquid may be stored in storage receptacle  104  for later pouring into receiving receptacle  102  for disinfecting a hand or an instrument.  
       FIG. 8  is an axial cross-sectional view showing a system  118  having two storage receptacles  120  and a receiving receptacle  122  that is constructed and operable in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention. System  118  is the same as water storage system  100  except that system  118  has two or more storage receptacles  120 . The combined storage volume of storage receptacles  120  is less than the storage volume of receiving receptacle  122 . It will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that the dimensions and design of storage receptacles  120  and receiving receptacle  122  depends on the intended use of system  118 . It will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that storage receptacles  120  can store the same liquid or different liquids. It will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that system  118  may be used for medical or other purposes, for example, but not limited to, (i) a disposal travel wash kit including detergents stored in storage receptacles  120  and receiving receptacle  122  being used as a washing basin, (ii) a home hair coloring kit including dyes stored in storage receptacles  120  and receiving receptacle  122  being used as a mixing bowl and (iii) a cake kit including cake ingredients stored in storage receptacles  120  and receiving receptacle  122  being used as a mixing bowl.  
      It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and sub-combinations of the various features described hereinabove, as well as variations and modifications thereof that are not in the prior art which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.