Patent Publication Number: US-9845171-B2

Title: Ergonomically advantageous container

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/905,084, filed Nov. 15, 2013. 
    
    
     REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Background 
     The present invention relates generally to containers for liquids, and more specifically, containers that are ergonomically advantageous to users. 
     2. Description of the Background 
     Various containers for liquids are known that generally include a reservoir that holds a liquid and a handle to facilitate carrying and dispensing of the liquid from the reservoir. These devices typically include a single, threaded pour spout and corresponding threaded cap to seal the container when not in use. Often handles are disposed either on the top of the containers to facilitate lifting or on a side of the container to facilitate pouring of the liquid therefrom. However, these types of handle placement present ergonomic problems to a user that cause difficulty for pouring and/or lifting of the container. Moreover, such problems are present throughout the use of the container from when full to when emptied. Similar difficulties may be also experienced when such containers are refilled. There is a need, therefore, for containers that allow a user to ergonomically handle the container both when lifting and carrying the container and when dispensing a liquid therefrom, as well as when there is a need to refill the container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect, a container includes a reservoir having a front wall, a rear wall, side walls, a bottom wall, and a top wall. The container further includes a handle disposed on the top wall at an angle defined by a grip axis, the handle being configured for a single grip position and having a midpoint that coincides with a midpoint of a user&#39;s grip when the handle is gripped by a user. In addition, the container includes a first center of gravity coincident with a resting axis that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall when the bottom wall is placed on a horizontal surface, and a second center of gravity coincident with a carrying axis that is substantially perpendicular to the grip axis when the container is carried by the handle. 
     According to a second aspect, a container includes a reservoir having a top wall, a handle disposed on the top wall at an angle defined by a grip axis, the handle being configured for a single grip position and having a midpoint that coincides with a midpoint of a user&#39;s grip when the handle is gripped by a user, a first center of gravity coincident with a resting axis that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall when the bottom wall is placed on a horizontal surface, and a second center of gravity coincident with a carrying axis that is substantially perpendicular to the grip axis when the container is carried by the handle. The second center of gravity remains substantially coincident with the carrying axis as the contents of the container are dispensed from the reservoir. 
     According to a third aspect, a container includes a reservoir having a front wall, a rear wall, side walls, a bottom wall, and a top wall. The container further includes a liquid comprised within the reservoir, a handle disposed on the top wall at an angle defined by a grip axis, the handle being configured for a single grip position and having a midpoint that coincides with a midpoint of a user&#39;s grip when the handle is gripped by a user, a threaded pour spout disposed on the top wall adjacent the handle, a cap disposed on the pour spout to provide a liquid impervious seal to the container, a first center of gravity coincident with a resting axis that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall when the bottom wall is placed on a horizontal surface, and a second center of gravity coincident with a carrying axis that is substantially perpendicular to the grip axis when the container is carried by the handle. The second center of gravity remains substantially coincident with the carrying axis as the contents of the container are dispensed from the reservoir. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of a first embodiment of a container; 
         FIG. 2  is a left side elevational view of the container of  FIG. 1 , the right side being a mirror image thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of a cap; 
         FIG. 4  is a left side elevational view of the container of  FIG. 1  in a first state; 
         FIG. 5  is a left side elevational view of the container of  FIG. 1  in a second state; 
         FIG. 6  is a left side partial cut away elevational view of a second embodiment of a container; 
         FIG. 7  is a left side elevational view of a container according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 8A  is a front isometric view of a container according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 8B  is a top plan view of the container of  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIG. 8C  is a front elevational view of the container of  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIG. 8D  is a left side elevational view of the container of  FIG. 8A , the right side being a mirror image thereof; 
         FIG. 9A  is a front isometric view of a container according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 9B  is a top plan view of the container of  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIG. 9C  is a front elevational view of the container of  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIG. 9D  is a left side elevational view of the container of  FIG. 9A , the right side being a mirror image thereof; 
         FIG. 10A  is a front isometric view of a container according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 10B  is a top plan view of the container of  FIG. 10A ; 
         FIG. 10C  is a front elevational view of the container of  FIG. 10A ; 
         FIG. 10D  is a left side elevational view of the container of  FIG. 10A , the right side being a mirror image thereof; 
         FIG. 11A  is a front isometric view of a container according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 11B  is a top plan view of the container of  FIG. 11A ; 
         FIG. 11C  is a front elevational view of the container of  FIG. 11A ; 
         FIG. 11D  is a left side elevational view of the container of  FIG. 11A , the right side being a mirror image thereof; 
         FIG. 12A  is a front isometric view of a container according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 12B  is a top plan view of the container of  FIG. 12A ; 
         FIG. 12C  is a front elevational view of the container of  FIG. 12A ; 
         FIG. 12D  is a left side elevational view of the container of  FIG. 12A , the right side being a mirror image thereof; 
         FIG. 13A  is a front isometric view of a container according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 13B  is a top plan view of the container of  FIG. 13A ; 
         FIG. 13C  is a front elevational view of the container of  FIG. 13A ; 
         FIG. 13D  is a left side elevational view of the container of  FIG. 13A , the right side being a mirror image thereof; 
         FIG. 14A  is a front isometric view of a container according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 14B  is a top plan view of the container of  FIG. 14A ; 
         FIG. 14C  is a front elevational view of the container of  FIG. 14A ; and 
         FIG. 14D  is a left side elevational view of the container of  FIG. 14A , the right side being a mirror image thereof. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 , a container  10  generally includes a reservoir  12 , with a front wall  14 , a rear wall  16 , side walls  18 , a bottom wall  20 , and a top wall  22 . The front wall  14 , rear wall  16 , side walls  18  and top wall  22  may each independently have a slightly convex and/or tapered shape, whereas the bottom wall  20  may be either flat or have a slight concave shape. The container further includes a handle  24  disposed on the top wall  22  at an angle defined by a grip axis A. The handle  24  is configured for a single grip position, such that a user when gripping the handle is able to grip the handle in a substantially single grip with the entire hand, rather than being able to grip the handle with the entire hand in two or more substantially different positions by sliding his grip along the handle in an upward or downward direction. The handle  24  further includes a midpoint  26  that coincides with a midpoint of a user&#39;s grip (not shown) when the handle is gripped by a user. The handle  24  may be hollow to help dispense a substance contained within the container  10  more efficiently and with reduced “glugging,” which occurs when a liquid leaving a container intermittently blocks the exit through which it is leaving to prevent air from entering the container. 
     A pour spout  28  is disposed on the top wall  22  adjacent the handle  24  and extends from the top wall  22  to a height H 1  below a height H 2  that corresponds to that of an upper most portion of the handle  24 . A distance D 1  is the distance between H 1  and H 2 . The pour spout  28  may include threads  30  or other locking mechanisms known in the art that may be engaged by a cap  32  with complementary threads or other complementary locking mechanism (not shown) to provide a liquid impervious seal when screwed onto the pour spout. The cap  32  may be any shape and may be sized such that when affixed to the pour spout  28 , a combined height of the pour spout and cap is equal to, less than, or greater than H 2 . 
     The reservoir  12  further includes a flat wall portion  34  disposed opposite of the pour spout  28 . The wall portion  34  is configured to provide a stabilizing base to the container  10  during refilling of the reservoir  12 . For example, as seen in  FIG. 4 , when a user wishes to add a substance, such as a liquid- or particulate-based substance to the reservoir  12 , the container  10  may be placed on a horizontal surface  36  on wall portion  34 , which positions the pour spout  28  in a generally vertical orientation to allow a substance to be poured or otherwise added from a direction B into the reservoir through the pour spout. When in this filling state, the user may more easily control the filling of the reservoir  12  because the container  10  is being maintained in a relatively steady state with little to no effort by the user. Thus, the user may fill the reservoir  12  without the need to hold onto the container  10  or with minimal steadying of the container. In another embodiment, the wall portion  34  may be varied in size relative to the bottom wall  20 , such that it is similarly sized or larger to provide greater stability when filling the reservoir  12 . 
     In one non-limiting form, the container  10  has a generally square outline of 9.25″×9.25″ (23.5 cm×23.5 cm) with a 5″ (12.7 cm) base and rounded slightly tapered sides. 
     The container  10  and/or cap  32  may each be independently made of any appropriate material, such as a polymer, a plastic, metal, glass, a cellulosic material, a laminated material, a recycled material, and combinations thereof. It is further envisioned that the container  10  may include an interior and/or exterior lining or coating to further strengthen the container structurally, as well as make the container resilient to harsh chemicals. The container may be opaque or minimally translucent to enable storage of light-sensitive materials. It is envisioned that such treatments may enable storage of most liquid- and/or particulate-based substances. 
     Containers  10  contemplated here may be of any volume (or weight) that would be carried by a single handled container, such as about 1 pint, or about 1 to about 3 quarts, or about 1 to about 5 gallons, or about 500 ml to about 1 liter, or about 2 to about 10 liters, or any volume in between. Containers  10  contemplated herein may also be of any shape, such as a diamond, a round or canteen shape, a spherical shape, a conical shape, a heart shape, a polyhedron shape, etc., while maintaining the principles of the present disclosure. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the container  10  is further configured to have a first center of gravity CG 1  that is coincident with a resting axis C, which is substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall  20  of the container when the bottom wall is placed on a horizontal surface (not shown). CG 1  may be located higher or lower along axis C based on altering the relative profile of the container  10 , where, for example, a more square shape and tapered walls provides a more stable architecture and lowers CG 1  along axis C and a more rectangular straighter side wall configuration shifts CG 1  upward along axis C. 
     The container  10  further has a second center of gravity CG 2  when the container is carried by the handle  24 , as depicted in  FIG. 5 . The center of gravity shifts from CG 1  to CG 2  when the container  10  is supported by the handle  24  by a user. Moreover, center of gravity CG 2  is coincident with a carrying axis E that extends from the midpoint  26  on grip axis A of the handle  24  in a substantial parallel direction with the force of gravity, which is substantially perpendicular to grip axis A. Axis C and axis E are separated by an angle a, which may range from about 1 degree to about 90 degrees, or about 5 degrees to about 80 degrees, or about 10 degrees to about 70 degrees, or about 15 to about 60 degrees, or may be about 25 degrees, or about 35 degrees, or about 45 degrees. 
     The configuration of the container  10  enables the center of gravity from CG 1  to shift to CG 2  when a user lifts the container by the handle and minimizes the torsional exertion necessary to use the container. In other words, by balancing the weight of the container  10  along the carrying axis E, the user expends less effort to pour contents from the container and hold the container compared to a container (not shown) with a center of gravity shifted forward (arrow F) or backward (arrow G) relative to the carrying axis E. Further, less shoulder, arm, wrist, and/or hand stress or strain is experienced by a user when employing the present container  10  compared to conventional containers. The present container  10 , therefore, provides improved user experience with improved ergonomics compared to similar containers. 
     Due to the configuration of the container  10 , the second center of gravity CG 2  remains substantially coincident with the carrying axis E as the contents of the container are dispensed over time. Rather than shifting forward or backward relative to the carrying axis E, the center of gravity CG 2  merely shifts downward as the contents of the container  10  decrease in a downward direction (arrow H) when the container is held in the carrying position, as shown in  FIG. 5 . This characteristic of the container  10  is realized insofar as a pourable level of the contents therein may be dispensed from the opening of the pour spout  28 . It is contemplated that the container  10  may be fashioned in such a manner that the pour spout  28  may be positioned higher or lower relative to the carrying axis E to facilitate dispensing. 
     While the contents of the container  10  are being dispensed, however, the center of gravity CG 2  may move forward and backward relative to the carrying axis E. Even so, it is believed that the overall distance the center of gravity travels when the container  10  transitions from a carrying position to a dispensing position is less than in containers lacking a center of gravity that remains coincident with a carrying axis of the container as container contents are dispensed over time. Therefore, a user experiences decreased torsional forces by using the present container relative to other containers lacking centers of gravity that remain coincident with a carrying axis. It follows that the present container  10  exhibits improved ergonomic efficiency relative to such other containers. 
     In another embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , a container  100  includes a bottom wall  20  with a concave central portion  120  that is configured to nest with the top wall  20  of a second container (not shown) to allow the containers to be stacked on top of one another. In one embodiment a depth D 2 , which is measured between a bottommost surface  122  of the container  100  and the apex  124  of the concave central portion  120 , is less than distance D 1  such that the weight of an upper container stacked on a lower container is not sustained by the cap (not shown) and pour spout  28  but rather by only the top surface  20 . Conversely, in a further embodiment, the cap  34  may be sized and configured to provide a larger surface area for an upper container stacked on a lower container to provide improved weight distribution and improved balance of the upper container. 
     In a further embodiment, variations in container dimensions (length, width, and height independently with respect to upper and lower portions of the containers), are envisioned that maximize use of internal container volume (for example, minimizing unusable head space) while at the same time minimizing changes in CG 1  as the contents of the container are dispensed over time. For example, as seen in  FIG. 7 , a container  100  has a maximum fill height  130  above which is the unused head space or void volume  132 . As further seen in  FIGS. 8A-14D , subtle variations in container dimensions may be made that lead to optimized volume usage while maintaining ergonomics. 
     Table Nos. 1-5 below show that variations in container dimensions may be made to optimize use of total volume and fluid volume for 5 different container configurations. Containers A, B, C, D, and E are shown in  FIGS. 8A-D ,  9 A-D,  10 A-D,  11 A-D, and  12 A-D, respectively. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE NO. 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Container A - container volumes. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Fill Height 
                 Total Volume 
                 Fluid Volume 
               
               
                   
                 (in/cm) 
                 (in 3 /L) 
                 (gal/L) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Empty 
                 0/0  
                   6.7/0.110 
                  0/0 
               
               
                 10% Usable HS 
                 6.4/16.25 
                     222/3.64 
                 0.93/3.5 
               
               
                 0.5″ Usable HS 
                     7/17.78 
                 235.3/3.86 
                 0.99/3.7 
               
               
                 1 gallon 
                 7.1/18.03 
                 237.0/3.88 
                 1.00/3.8 
               
               
                 Max Fill 
                 7.5/19.05 
                 243.7/3.99 
                 1.03/3.9 
               
               
                 (No Usable HS) 
               
               
                 Unusable HS 
                 7.5/19.05 
                 18.10/0.3  
                  0.05/0.19 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE NO. 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Container B - container volumes. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Fill Height 
                 Total Volume 
                 Fluid Volume 
               
               
                   
                 (in/cm) 
                 (in 3 /L) 
                 (gal/L) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Empty 
                 0/0    
                   5.6/0.09 
                 0/0 
               
               
                 10% Usable HS 
                 6/15.24 
                 219.4/3.6 
                 0.93//3.5 
               
               
                 0.5″ Usable HS 
                 6.5/16.51     
                 232.3/3.8 
                 0.98/ 
               
               
                 1 gallon 
                 6.7/17.02     
                 236.8/3.9 
                 1.00/3.8  
               
               
                 Max Fill 
                 7/17.78 
                 242.7/4.0 
                 1.03/3.9  
               
               
                 (No Usable HS) 
               
               
                 Unusable HS 
                 7/17.78 
                 18.40/0.3 
                 0.06/0.23 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE NO. 3 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Container C - container volumes. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Fill Height 
                 Total Volume 
                 Fluid Volume 
               
               
                   
                 (in/cm) 
                 (in 3 /L) 
                 (gal/L) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Empty 
                 0/0  
                   5.4/0.09 
                  0/0 
               
               
                 10% Usable HS 
                 6.3/16   
                     220/3.6 
                 0.93/3.5 
               
               
                 0.5″ Usable HS 
                     7/17.78 
                 235.7/3.9 
                 1.00/3.8 
               
               
                 1 gallon 
                     7/17.78 
                 235.7/3.9 
                 1.00/3.8 
               
               
                 Max Fill 
                 7.5/19.05 
                 244.4/4.0 
                 1.03/3.9 
               
               
                 (No Usable HS) 
               
               
                 Unusable HS 
                 7.5/19.05 
                  17.0/0.3 
                  0.05/0.19 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE NO. 4 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Container D - container volumes 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Fill Height 
                 Total Volume 
                 Fluid Volume 
               
               
                   
                 (in/cm) 
                 (in 3 /L) 
                 (gal/L) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Empty 
                 0/0  
                   5.6/0.09 
                 0/0 
               
               
                 10% Usable HS 
                 5.85/14.86 
                 220.4/3.6 
                 0.93/3.5  
               
               
                 0.5″ Usable HS 
                 6.25/15.88 
                 231.6/3.8 
                 0.98/3.71 
               
               
                 1 gallon 
                 6.45/16.38 
                 236.6/3.9 
                 1.00/3.8  
               
               
                 Max Fill 
                 6.75/17.15 
                 243.1/4.0 
                 1.03/3.9  
               
               
                 (No Usable HS) 
               
               
                 Unusable HS 
                 6.75/17.15 
                  19.1/0.31 
                 0.06/0.23 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE NO. 5 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Container E - container volumes 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Fill Height 
                 Total Volume 
                 Fluid Volume 
               
               
                   
                 (in/cm) 
                 (in 3 /L) 
                 (gal/L) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Empty 
                 0/0  
                   4.7/0.08 
                  0/0 
               
               
                 10% Usable HS 
                 6.3/16     
                 219.6/3.6 
                 0.93/3.5 
               
               
                 0.5″ Usable HS 
                  6.9/17.53 
                 233.3/3.8 
                 0.99/3.7 
               
               
                 1 gallon 
                   7/17.78 
                 235.3/3.9 
                 1.00/3.8 
               
               
                 Max Fill 
                 7.4/18.8 
                 242.5/4.0 
                 1.03/3.9 
               
               
                 (No Usable HS) 
               
               
                 Unusable HS 
                 7.4/18.8 
                  17.9/0.29 
                  0.06/0.23 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The variations in container dimensions of containers A-E are such that they do not compromise ergonomic considerations, as can be seen in Tables Nos. 6-10, which reveal changes in center of gravity per container relative to the X- and Y-axes (see  FIG. 7 ) according to pour angle, β, which is the angle (expressed in degrees) between the bottom wall  20  and the X-axis as the container  100  rotates counterclockwise about the Z-axis to pour the contents from the pour spout  28 . Changes in center of gravity are further influenced by total volume and fluid volume of container contents and the total mass of the container and contents  100 . 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE NO. 6 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Container A - Change in center of gravity. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Total 
                 Fluid 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Pour 
                 Volume 
                 Volume 
                 Pour CG-X 
                 Pour CG-Y 
                 Mass 
               
               
                 Angle (β) 
                 (in 3 /L) 
                 (gal/L) 
                 (in/cm) 
                 (in/cm) 
                 (lbs/kg) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 10 
                 245.3/4.0 
                 1.03/3.9 
                 0.289/0.7 
                 3.548/9.0 
                 8.6/3.9 
               
               
                 20 
                 233.7/3.8 
                 0.98/3.7 
                 0.305/0.8 
                 3.382/8.6 
                 8.2/3.7 
               
               
                 30 
                 205.1/3.4 
                 0.86/3.3 
                 0.526/1.3 
                 3.083/7.8 
                 7.2/3.2 
               
               
                 50 
                 121.0/2.0 
                 0.49/1.9 
                  1.7/4.3 
                 2.748/7.0 
                 4.1/1.9 
               
               
                 70 
                  56.5/0.9 
                 0.22/0.8 
                 2.753/7.0 
                 2.887/7.3 
                 1.8/0.8 
               
               
                 85 
                  24.3/0.4 
                 0.08/0.3 
                 2.835/7.2 
                 3.403/8.6 
                 0.6/0.3 
               
               
                 95 
                  9.9/0.2 
                 0.01/0.3 
                 1.471/3.7 
                  4.291/10.9 
                  0.1/0.05 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE NO. 7 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Container B - Change in center of gravity. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Total 
                 Fluid 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Pour 
                 Volume 
                 Volume 
                 Pour CG-X 
                 Pour CG-Y 
                 Mass 
               
               
                 Angle (β) 
                 (in 3 /L) 
                 (gal/L) 
                 (in/cm) 
                 (in/cm) 
                 (lbs/kg) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 10 
                 245.6/4.0 
                 1.06/4.0 
                 0.289/0.7 
                 3.565/9.1 
                 8.9/4.0 
               
               
                 20 
                 233.4/3.8 
                 1.01/3.8 
                 0.303/0.8 
                 3.409/8.7 
                 8.4/3.8 
               
               
                 50 
                 117.3/1.9 
                 0.51/1.9 
                 1.585/4.0 
                 2.825/7.2 
                 4.2/1.9 
               
               
                 70 
                   53/0.9 
                 0.23/0.9 
                 2.543/6.5 
                 2.931/7.4 
                 1.9/0.9 
               
               
                 85 
                  21.4/0.4 
                 0.09/0.4 
                 2.627/6.7 
                 3.408/8.7 
                 0.8/0.4 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE NO. 8 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Container C - Change in center of gravity. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Total 
                 Fluid 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Pour 
                 Volume 
                 Volume 
                 Pour CG-X 
                 Pour CG-Y 
                 Mass 
               
               
                 Angle (β) 
                 (in 3 /L) 
                 (gal/L) 
                 (in/cm) 
                 (in/cm) 
                 (lbs/kg) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 10 
                 245.9/4.0 
                 1.06/4.0 
                 0.286/0.7 
                 3.543/9.0 
                 8.9/4.0 
               
               
                 20 
                 235.8/3.9 
                 1.02/3.9 
                 0.293/0.7 
                 3.395/8.6 
                 8.5/3.9 
               
               
                 50 
                 130.6/2.1 
                 0.57/2.1 
                 1.369/3.5 
                 2.692/6.8 
                 4.7/2.1 
               
               
                 70 
                  59.2/1.0 
                 0.26/1.0 
                 2.474/6.3 
                 2.809/7.1 
                 2.1/1.0 
               
               
                 85 
                   23/0.4 
                 0.10/0.4 
                 2.685/6.8 
                 3.326/8.4 
                 0.8/0.4 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE NO. 9 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Container D - Change in center of gravity. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Total 
                 Fluid 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Pour 
                 Volume 
                 Volume 
                 Pour CG-X 
                 Pour CG-Y 
                 Mass 
               
               
                 Angle (β) 
                 (in 3 /L) 
                 (gal/L) 
                 (in/cm) 
                 (in/cm) 
                 (lbs/kg) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 10 
                 246.7/4.0 
                 1.07/4.0 
                 0.288/0.7 
                 3.574/9.1 
                 8.9/4.0 
               
               
                 20 
                 234.2/3.8 
                 1.01/3.8 
                 0.302/0.8 
                 3.426/8.7 
                 8.5/3.8 
               
               
                 50 
                 116.0/1.9 
                 0.50/1.9 
                 1.517/3.9 
                 2.871/7.3 
                 4.2/1.9 
               
               
                 70 
                  51.9/0.9 
                 0.22/0.9 
                 2.401/6.1 
                 2.968/7.5 
                 1.9/0.8 
               
               
                 85 
                  21.1/0.3 
                 0.09/0.3 
                 2.463/6.3 
                 3.427/8.7 
                 0.8/0.3 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE NO. 10 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Container E - Change in center of gravity. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Total 
                 Fluid 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Pour 
                 Volume 
                 Volume 
                 Pour CG-X 
                 Pour CG-Y 
                 Mass 
               
               
                 Angle (β) 
                 (in 3 /L) 
                 (gal/L) 
                 (in/cm) 
                 (in/cm) 
                 (lbs/kg) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 10 
                 245.1/4.0 
                 1.04/3.9 
                 0.282/0.7 
                 3.535/9.0 
                 8.7/3.9 
               
               
                 20 
                 236.2/3.9 
                 1.00/3.8 
                 0.284/0.7 
                  3.4/8.6 
                 8.4/3.8 
               
               
                 50 
                 140.4/2.3 
                 0.59/2.2 
                 1.069/2.7 
                 2.654/6.7 
                 4.9/2.2 
               
               
                 70 
                 63.47/1.0 
                 0.25/1.0 
                  2.15/5.5 
                 2.737/7.0 
                 2.1/1.0 
               
               
                 85 
                  22.6/0.4 
                 0.08/0.3 
                 2.458/6.2 
                 3.243/8.2 
                 0.6/0.3 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As can be seen in Table Nos. 6-10, a particular container&#39;s configuration influences the relationship between the amount of contents dispensed and the pour angle. For example, containers A, B, and D have dispensed more than 50% of total volume of their contents at pour angle of 50°, whereas containers C and E have dispensed less than 50% of total volume of their contents at pour angle of 50°. Additional relationships contemplated herein may be observed by comparison of any of pour angle, volumes, centers of gravity X and/or Y, and mass together with or independent from fill height, total volume, and fluid volume per container. 
     All values disclosed herein may vary by ±10%, ±20%, or ±50%. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The containers described herein advantageously provide an ergonomically favorable configuration to minimize user effort and discomfort when carrying or pouring liquids. 
     Numerous modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use the invention and to teach the best mode of carrying out same. The exclusive rights to all modifications which come within the scope of the application are reserved. All patents and patent publications are incorporated by reference.