Patent Publication Number: US-2021171246-A1

Title: Device for extracting residual amounts of fluid from a container

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a device for extracting residual amounts of fluid from containers, including containers for consumer products. 
     2. Background 
     Consumers and other persons purchase a myriad of products that come in fluid form, like soaps, shampoos, lotions, condiments, and similar items. Often, such products are packaged and sold in plastic and other containers. When such containers are at or near full capacity, it is relatively easy for the user to extract the fluid from the container. But as the fluid in the container is depleted, small amounts of fluid often remain, and such residual amounts are difficult to extract. To solve this problem, some manufacturers have adapted their containers so they may be turned upside down to allow gravity to pull the fluid from the bottom of the container to near the top of the container, so the user can extract more of the fluid from the container. Not all manufacturers, however, have modified their containers in such a way. In such cases, the user must devise other means to extract the last bit of fluid from the container, which are often awkward and messy. 
     3. Description of the Prior Art 
     As stated earlier, some manufacturers of products containing lotions, shampoos, condiments and the like, have adapted their bottle tops so the container can rest upside down to allow gravity to pull the fluid from the bottom of the container to near the top of the container. Other art, like that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. D724,943 to Epstein, shows a screw-on fitment that may replace a standard bottle top to allow the container to rest upside down. 
     Other devices, like the Fluid Recovery Cap System disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,418,987 to Colasacco, provides a dual cap that allows a user to stack one container on top of another to allow gravity to empty the top container into the lower container. As disclosed in the Colasacco patent, the containers are connected to the dual cap by threading both containers on opposite sides of the device. While such a device may assist in fully emptying the container on top, it may not be easily deployed to empty the second container when the fluid volume therein becomes low. 
     Thus, there is a need for a device that is reusable and adaptable to various bottle top sizes while providing a stable base when the container is turned upside down to assist in extracting residual fluid from the container. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The device disclosed herein is designed to facilitate extracting residual amounts of fluid products from a container. Such products include, but are not limited to, soaps, shampoos, lotions, condiments and the like. Condiments suitable for use with the device may include fluid food products like ketchup, mustard, and other food products whose container has not been adapted to be stably inverted to allow gravity to pull residual amounts of the product from the bottom of the container to near the top. 
     The device disclosed herein is so designed that it may be adapted to various bottle top sizes while providing a stable base when the container is inverted. The device is further adapted to be reusable. By using the device disclosed herein, users can save money by being able to access and use residual amounts of fluid products and thereby minimize waste. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention can be better understood by reference to the following drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a top view of an embodiment of a device for extracting residual amounts of fluid from a container. 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of an embodiment of a device for extracting residual amounts of fluid from a container. 
         FIG. 3  shows a cut-away view of an embodiment of a device for extracting residual amounts of fluid from a container. 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a device for extracting residual amounts of fluid from a container. 
         FIG. 5-9  show embodiments of a device for extracting residual amounts of fluid from a container. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments or examples. These embodiments may be combined, other embodiments may be utilized, and structural, logical, and procedural changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     As disclosed in  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a device  100  for extracting residual amounts of fluid from a container includes a lid  101  that also serves as a base for the container when it is inverted, and a hinge  102  connecting the lid to a threadless cap  103 . The lid  101  further includes a plug  105  adapted to be secured within an opening  106  in the cap  103 . In one embodiment as shown in  FIG. 1 , the opening  106  resembles an oblong shape with concave sides  107  wherein the circumference of the posterior end of the opening  108 , namely the end proximate the lid  101 , is greater than the circumference of the anterior end of the opening  109 , namely the end distal the lid  101 . When the opening  106  is configured in this fashion, it facilitates drainage of the fluid back into the container when the container is in the upright position. When the plug  105  is secured within the opening  106 , the plug  105  serves to minimize evaporation of the fluid when the container is upright and also prevents the fluid from leaking from the container when it is inverted.  FIG. 1  also discloses a notch  104  that allows the lid  101  to be easily detached from the cap  103  when a user wants to extract the fluid from the container. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of an embodiment of a device  100  for extracting residual amounts of fluid from a container that shows the lid  201  attached to the cap  203  via the flexible hinge  202 .  FIG. 2  also shows a side view of the plug  205 . In an embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2 , the plug  205  includes a distal end knob  206 , which is the end configured to mate with the opening  105 , a middle section  207 , and an end  208  proximate the lid  201 . When an embodiment of the plug  205  is configured in the fashion shown in  FIG. 2 , the distal end  206  includes a circumference that is generally larger than the middle section  207  to form a knob  206 . The larger circumference of the knob  206  allows the plug  205  to securely and snuggly mate with the opening  106 , which serves to minimize or prevent evaporation and leakage of fluid from the container and force any residual fluid retained in opening  105  back into the container when the plug  205  is engaged with the opening  105 .  FIG. 2  further shows a tapered neck  204  of the cap  203 . The tapered neck design  204  is adapted to be flexible to accommodate and snugly fit a range of bottleneck sizes. 
       FIG. 3  is a cutaway view of an embodiment of a device  100  for extracting residual amounts of fluid from a container, which again shows a lid  301  connected to a cap  303  via a flexible hinge  302 .  FIG. 3  also shows an opening or conduit  306  through which a user can extract the fluid in the container after the user disengages the lid  301  from the cap  303  by using finger pressure on the lid via the notch  304 .  FIG. 3  further shows the tapered, flexible neck  307 .  FIG. 3  further shows an embodiment that includes a circumferential groove  308 . In this embodiment, when the device is mated with a container, the circumferential groove  308  is adapted to engage the lip of the container to secure the device to the container and minimize or prevent fluid from leaking from the container while in the inverted position and resting on the device. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a device  100  for extracting residual amounts of fluid from a container showing a lid  401  connected to a cap  403  via a flexible hinge  402 .  FIG. 4  also shows the plug  405 , which is adapted to securely fit within the opening  406 , and in which said plug  405  can be easily and quickly disengaged from the opening  406  by using finger pressure on the lid via the notch  404 .  FIG. 4  further shows the tapered, flexible neck  407  that is adapted to accommodate a variety of bottleneck sizes.  FIG. 4  also may include an embodiment of the flexible hinge  402  that tapers outward  408  with a larger width where it attaches to the lid  401  and cap  403 . 
       FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of a device  500  for extracting residual amounts of fluid from a container showing a tapered, circumferential groove or channel  501  adapted to engage the lip of the container to secure the device to the container and minimize or prevent fluid from leaking from the container while in the inverted position and resting on the device.  FIG. 5  further illustrates a circumferential sealing lip  502  that is pliably adapted to compressively and securely fit a variety of bottleneck or container sizes.  FIGS. 6-9  show embodiments of a device for extracting residual amounts of fluid from a container. 
     It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments and variations may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.”