Patent Publication Number: US-11389020-B2

Title: Container holder and methods relating to same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/821,861, filed Mar. 21, 2019, and is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY 
     The present disclosure generally describes a bottle holder. More specifically, the present disclosure describes a device for holding a bottle in an inverted orientation and methods relating to same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Bottles, such as shampoo bottles and condiment bottles, often have an elongated body with a broad base at a first end and a narrow neck and cap at a second, opposite end. The cap covers an opening in the neck through which the viscous material stored in the bottle is dispensed. 
     Bottles are stored upright with the first end facing downward and the second end facing upward. During storage, the viscous material settled towards the bottom of the internal cavity, near the second end of the bottle. When the bottle is inverted for use, the forces adhesion and cohesion counteract gravity to hold the material against the bottom and side surfaces of the internal cavity, making it difficult to get the last portion of material from the bottle. 
     The narrow cross section of the cap and neck of the bottles make balancing them in an inverted orientation difficult. When stored in the inverted orientation, the bottles are prone to falling over. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Described herein are embodiments of systems, methods and apparatus for addressing these shortcomings. 
       This description includes drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a bottle holder in a first orientation with a first end opening upward. 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the bottle holder of  FIG. 1A  in a second orientation with the first end opening downward. 
         FIG. 1C  is a cross-sectional view of the bottle holder of  FIGS. 1A-1B  taken along line  1 C- 1 C. 
         FIG. 1D  is a cross-sectional view of the bottle holder of  FIGS. 1A-1C  taken along line  1 D- 1 D. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a bottle holder in a first orientation with a first end opening upward. 
         FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of the bottle holder of  FIG. 2A  taken along the line  2 B- 2 B. 
         FIG. 3A  is a top plan view of a bottle holder having an insert. 
         FIG. 3B  is a front elevation view of the bottle holder of  FIG. 3A  holding a long neck bottle. 
         FIG. 3C  is a front elevation view of the bottle holder of  FIGS. 3A-3B  holding a cylindrical bottle. 
         FIG. 3D  is a front elevation view of the bottle holder of  FIGS. 3A-3C  holding a noncylindrical bottle. 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a hyperboloid bottle holder. 
         FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of the bottle holder of  FIG. 4A  with a bottom flange. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters in the attached drawings indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. In addition, elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted or described in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of the illustrated elements and a more concise disclosure. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure describes a bottle holder configured to hold a bottle in an inverted position with the cap of the bottle facing downward. The bottle holder has cavities opening toward opposite ends thereof. The cavities are different shapes and/or sizes, such that the bottle holder can be inverted to hold different shaped or sized bottles. 
     Certain embodiments also have a central, annular portion sized to fit around a standard sized bottle cap or bottle neck. The annular portion is configured to hold bottles that extend through one of the two cavities. 
       FIGS. 1A-1D  represent exemplary embodiments of an invertible bottle holder  100 . In some examples, the invertible bottle holder  100  has first holder portion  110 , a second holder portion  120 , and a central portion  130 . The first holder portion  110  has a sidewall  116  which defines a first cavity  111  opening at a first end  101  of the invertible bottle holder  100 . The first and second holder portions  110 ,  120  have diverging shapes, such that they are wider at the distal ends and narrower near the central portion  130 . The first cavity  111  has a triangular or frustoconical shape. The frustoconical shape of the first cavity  111  is configured to receive bottles having a substantially circular cross-section. The slope of the frustoconical first cavity  111  is configured to receive bottles of differing diameters by inserting them into the first cavity until the outer surface of the bottle contacts the inner surface  114  of the first holder portion  111 . 
     The second holder portion  120  has a sidewall  126  which defines a second cavity  121  opening at a second end  102  of the invertible bottle holder  100 . The second end  102  is opposite the first end  101 , such that when the first end  101  is oriented upward, as shown in  FIG. 1A , the second end  102  is oriented downward. A first pair of cutouts or apertures  122  extend through the sidewall  126  and are spaced opposite each other. A second pair of cutouts or apertures  123  extend through the sidewall  126  and are spaced opposite each other. The second pair of apertures  123  are spaced circumferentially from the first pair of apertures  122  by approximately 90 degrees. The second pair of apertures  123  are a different size and/or shape than the first set of apertures. Each aperture  122 / 123  is open at the second end  102  of the invertible bottle holder  100 , such that when the invertible bottle holder  100  is in the second orientation, as shown in  FIG. 1B , a portion of a bottle can be received in an aperture  122 / 123  from above. 
     The second holder portion  120  is configured to support a bottle having a cross-section which is longer in a first direction than it is in a second, perpendicular direction. For example, and bottle having an ovular or elliptical cross-section. The long axis of the bottle&#39;s cross-section is aligned with a pair of cavities or apertures  122 / 123  such that a portion of the bottle is received in the apertures  122 / 123 . The sidewall proximate the apertures  122 / 123  extend about a portion of the bottle, to support to bottle in a vertical orientation. In alternative forms, the second holder portion includes recesses or cavities for supporting bottles having an elongated cross-section.  FIGS. 2A-2B , discussed below, illustrate an invertible bottle holder  200  wherein the second holder portion  220  has a frustoconical sidewall  226  having a pair of recesses  222  in the internal surface of the sidewall  226 . In still further alternatives, as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3D  and discussed below, inserts  340  are inserted into the second holder portion  320 . The inserts  340  have an inner cavity  323  with an elongated cross-section corresponding to the cross-section shape of one or more bottles. 
     The central portion  130  has a substantially annular sidewall  136 . The sidewall  136  defines a substantially cylindrical internal cavity  131 . The central portion  130  is sized to receive a cap or neck of a bottle. The sidewall  136  fits tightly around the perimeter of the cap or neck, so as to secure the bottle in an upright position. A bottle being supported in this manner is illustrated in  FIG. 3B . 
     In some forms the central portion  130  has a stepped cross-section such that the sidewall  136  defines multiple cylindrical cavities of differing diameters. As such, the central portion  130  is configured to support bottles with differing sized caps or necks. 
       FIGS. 2A-2B  illustrate an invertible bottle holder  200 . The invertible bottle holder  200  has a first holder portion  210  a second holder portion  220 , and a central portion  230 . The first holder portion  210  and central portion  230  are substantially similar to the first holder portion  110  and central portion  130  described above. 
     The second holder portion  220  has a frustoconical sidewall  226  defining an inner cavity  221  into which a portion of a bottle is received. The sidewall  226  has an inner surface  227  into which two opposing cavities  223  are disposed. The cavities  223  are configured to receive a portion of a noncylindrical bottle. In operation, a noncylindrical bottle, such as a bottle having an elliptical cross section, is inserted into the bottle holder  200  with the major axis of the bottle&#39;s cross section aligning with the cavities  223 . The portion of the sidewall  226  defining the cavities  223  contact the sidewall of the bottle to support the bottle in an inverted orientation. 
     The first holder portion  210  includes a frustoconical sidewall  216  having a substantially smooth inner surface  214 . The sidewall  216  defines an inner cavity  211  configured to receive a portion of an inverted bottle. In operation, the sidewalls  216  contacts the inverted bottle so as to support the bottle in the inverted position. 
     The bottle holder  200  is invertible between a first position, in which the first holder portion  210  opens upward, and a second position, in which the second holder portion  220  opens upward. In the first position, the second holder portion  220  serves as a base, resting on a flat surface, such as a shelf. The first holder portion  210  receives the top portion of an inverted bottle and supports the bottle in a vertical orientation so that fluid within the bottle settles toward the cap of the bottle. Similarly, with the bottle holder  200  in the second position, the first holder portion  210  serves as a base and the second holder portion  220  receives an inverted bottle and supports it in the vertical orientation. 
     The central portion  230  of the bottle holder includes an annular sidewall  236  defining a cylindrical interior space  231 . The interior space  231  is sized to receive the cap or neck of a bottle having an elongated neck. The sidewall  236  frictionally engages the cap or neck so as to support the bottle in an inverted orientation. In some forms, the sidewall  236  has a stepped cross section so as to define multiple cylindrical interior space  231  having different diameters. 
     In some alternatives, the bottle holder includes removable inserts having cavities for supporting different shaped bottles.  FIGS. 3A-3D  illustrate a bottle holder  300  having a first bottle holding portion  310 , second bottle holding portion  320 , and central portion  330 . An insert  340  is inserted into the second bottle holding portion  320 . 
     The first and second bottle holder portions  310 ,  320  have frustoconical sidewalls  316 ,  326  defining internal cavities  311 ,  321  as described in the embodiments above. The insert  340  is a removable insert which detachably couples to one of the sidewalls  316 ,  326 . In some forms, the insert  340  forms a friction fit with the inner surface of the sidewall  316 ,  326 . 
     The insert  340  has a sidewall  346  defining an inner cavity  341 . As shown, the inner cavity  341  has a generally elliptical cross section. In operation, the insert  340  is oriented to open upward, and an inverted bottle having a generally elliptical cross section is at least partially inserted into the cavity  341 . The sidewall  346  contacts the sidewall of the bottle so as to support the bottle in the inverted orientation. 
     While the insert  340  has an elliptical cross section, it is understood that inserts having differently shaped cavities are considered for supporting differently shaped bottles. For example, inserts  340  having cavities  341  with ovular, oblong, pill-shaped, or rectangular cross sections are considered. 
     In some forms, the diverging bottle holder portions of an invertible bottle holder diverge at a nonlinear rate relative to the distance from the central portion. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B , a bottle holder  400  has a sidewall  406  having a hyperboloid shape. The hyperboloid shaped sidewall narrows at a central portion  430  and flares outward towards both ends to form a first bottle holder portion  410  and second bottle holder portion  420 . The second bottle holder portion  420  has a wider cross section at its distal end than the first bottle holder portion. The differently sized bottle holder portion  410 ,  420  are configured to support different sized bottles in inverted orientations. 
     In some forms, the bottle holder  400  includes attachment structure for detachably coupling the bottle holder to a supporting surface, such as a shelf. The bottle holder  400  has a flange portion  407  to which a plurality of suction cups  408  are coupled. The suction cups  408  are used to couple the bottle holder  400  to a flat surface. In some forms, the bottle holder  400  includes a second flange portion  407  with a second attachment structure  408  on the opposite end for coupling the bottle holder  400  to a flat surface when in the inverted orientation. In alternative embodiments, other attachment structures  408  are used, such as magnets, high friction materials, or sticky materials. 
       FIGS. 3B-3D  illustrate the bottle holder  300  being used to support three different shaped bottles  1 ,  2 ,  3  in inverted orientations. The bottle holders  100 ,  200 ,  400  can be similarly used to support these same bottles  1 ,  2 ,  3  in the respective orientations. 
       FIG. 3B  illustrates the bottle holder  300  supporting a bottle  1  having an elongated neck. The neck extends through the first holder portion  310  without contacting the sidewall  316 . The cap extends into the cavity  331  defined by the central portion  330 , and frictionally engages the sidewall  336  thereof. The frictional engagement between the sidewall  336  and the cap of the bottle  1  supports the bottle in the orientation shown. 
       FIG. 3C  illustrates the bottle holder  300  supporting a bottle  2  having a substantially cylindrical main body. As shown, the cylindrical main body has a frustoconical top portion narrowing to a cap. The top portion of the bottle  2  is received within the cavity  311  of the top holder portion  310  of the bottle holder  300 . The inner surface  314  of the sidewall  316  contacts the sidewall of the bottle  2  so as to support the bottle  2 . 
       FIG. 3D  illustrates the bottle holder  300  in a second, inverted orientation compared to the orientation shown in  FIGS. 3B-3C . The insert  340  is inserted into the second bottle holder portion  320 . A bottle having a substantially elliptical cross section is inserted into the insert  340 . The sidewall  346  of the insert  340  supports the bottle in the inverted position shown. 
     In each of the operations shown in  FIGS. 3B-3D , the downward facing bottle holder portion  310 ,  320  provides a relatively wide base, such that the bottle holder  300  and bottle  1 ,  2 ,  3  assembly is stable. Gravity acts on the fluid within the bottle  1 ,  2 ,  3 , causing the fluid to settle near the cap of the bottles  1 ,  2 ,  3 . 
     In one exemplary embodiment, a container holder  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400  is provided comprising a base  120 ,  220 ,  320 ,  420  for supporting a receptacle and a receptacle  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410  positioned atop the base for holding a container in an inverted orientation, the receptacle tapering from a larger opening on an end positioned opposite the base to a smaller opening on an end positioned proximate the base. 
     In some forms the base and receptacle form a substantially dual cone structure with the base  120 ,  220 ,  320  forming an inverted cone and the receptacle forming an unturned cone  110 ,  210 ,  310 . In further embodiments, the inverted cone and unturned cone meet at a cylindrical collar  130 ,  230 ,  330  positioned between the cones. 
     In some operations of the container holder, the container is a long neck bottle and the cylindrical collar has a diameter sized to frictionally fit an opening of the long neck bottle when the long neck bottle is positioned on the container holder in an inverted orientation. In some forms, the container is a long neck bottle and the collar defines an internal step having an upper surface that may be used to support the opening of the long neck bottle when the long neck bottle is positioned on the container holder in an inverted orientation. 
     In other operations of the container holder, the container is an oval shaped bottle and the unturned cone defines recesses for receiving shoulder portions of the oval shaped bottle when the oval bottle is positioned on the container holder in an inverted orientation. 
     In some embodiments, recesses  123 ,  223  are defined in opposing sides of the unturned cone  120 ,  220 . In some forms, the recesses  123  comprise openings entirely through a side wall of the unturned cone. For example, the openings entirely through the side walls of the unturned core comprise a first pair  123  of openings through opposite sides of the side wall of the unturned cone and a second pair  122  of openings through opposite sides of the side wall of the unturned cone, wherein the second pair of openings are rotated ninety degrees along the side wall from the first pair of openings so that axes extending between the respective opening pairs would intersect and be perpendicular to one another. In some forms, the first pair of openings and second pair of openings have opening shapes that differ from one another so that the first pair of openings can accommodate containers different than the second pair of openings and vice versa. 
     In some embodiments, the container holder is reversible and the cone of the inverted cone differs in size from the cone of the unturned cone so that the container holder may be used in a first orientation to support bottles of a first type and may be used in a second orientation to support bottles of a second type different from the first type. 
     In other embodiments, the substantially dual cone structure is a substantially hyperboloid structure with an upward opening first portion  410  defining the receptacle and unturned cone and a downward opening second portion  420  defining the base and inverted cone. 
     In some forms, the first and second portions intersect with one another on respective first ends and terminate in respective upward and downward facing openings at distal ends thereof, and wherein the second portion is larger than the first portion and has four substantially triangular flanges extending from quadrants of the distal end defining the downward facing opening with each substantially triangular flange defining an opening and having a respective suction member disposed partially within each opening to allow the container holder to be suctioned to a surface to hold the container holder in place with respect to the surface. 
     It should be understood that the embodiments discussed herein are simply meant as representative examples of how the concepts disclosed herein may be utilized and that other system/method/apparatus are contemplated beyond those few examples. In addition, it should also be understood that features of one embodiment may be combined with features of other embodiments to provide yet other embodiments as desired, for example, the hyperboloid bottle holder  400  may include recesses  123  or  223 , or the a bottle holder with frustoconical sidewalls may include a flange with attachment structures.