Patent Publication Number: US-11039718-B2

Title: Inverted bottle hanging apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The technical field of the present invention relates in general to devices for hanging containers to facilitate dispensing of personal care products. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Personal care products for use in bathing are typically in the form of viscous liquids, gels, emulsions, colloidal suspensions, and the like, including, but not limited to, shampoo, hair conditioner, body wash, facial wash, exfoliants, shaving cream, etc. Such personal care products are typically distributed and sold in bottles, tubes, cans, and other containers (collectively “bottles”) that are intended to be used in the bathing environment, including showers, bath tubs, spas and hot tubs, etc. 
     With an increasing variety of personal care products on the market, one issue that arises is the relative lack of horizontal space in the bathing environment to place all of the bottles used by the various people who may share a particular shower or bath tub. Another issue that arises with keeping bottles in a damp environment for prolonged periods of time is that mold and mildew can grow on surfaces where bottles prevent evaporation of bathing water or prolong the time required for bathing water to evaporate. Metal cans, such as shaving cream cans, can rust and cause stains. Another issue that arises with bottles containing personal care products is that, due to gravity, the viscous contents of the bottles tend to collect at the end of the bottle (e.g., the bottom) that is often at the end opposite from the opening of the bottle (e.g., the top). As the bottle becomes depleted, the bather typically has to invert the bottle and shake it to get the viscous contents of the bottle to the end that has the opening. 
     What is needed is a way to organize and store bottles in a bathing environment that reduces or eliminates the need for horizontal surface area, that reduces or eliminates the buildup of mold and mildew and other stains, and that keeps viscous contents of the bottle at the end with the opening to reduce the time needed to dispense the viscous contents to a bather. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the present invention is directed to an inverted bottle hanging device comprising a cord for hanging the device around a bathroom fixture and an elastomeric base unit. The elastomeric base unit includes a bottle hole adapted in size and shape to receive a bottle and maintain the bottle in a fixed position relative to the bottle hole, wherein the bottle is maintained in a fixed position relative to the bottle hole at least in part by way of friction between the base unit and the bottle. The elastomeric base unit includes one or more cord holes adapted in size and shape to receive the cord for hanging the device around the bathroom fixture. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method of manufacturing an inverted bottle hanging device. The method includes forming an elastomeric base unit including a bottle hole adapted in size and shape to receive a bottle and maintain the bottle in a fixed position relative to the bottle hole, wherein the bottle is maintained in a fixed position relative to the bottle hole at least in part by way of friction between the base unit and the bottle; and one or more cord holes adapted in size and shape to receive the cord for hanging the device around the bathroom fixture. The method includes affixing to each of the one or more cord holes a cord for hanging the device around a bathroom fixture. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method of hanging a bottle from a bathroom fixture in an inverted orientation. The method includes hanging an inverted bottle hanging device from a bathroom fixture. The inverted bottle hanging device includes a cord for hanging the device around a bathroom fixture and an elastomeric base unit. The elastomeric base unit includes a bottle hole adapted in size and shape to receive a bottle and maintain the bottle in a fixed position relative to the bottle hole, wherein the bottle is maintained in a fixed position relative to the bottle hole at least in part by way of friction between the base unit and the bottle; and one or more cord holes adapted in size and shape to receive the cord for hanging the device around the bathroom fixture. The method includes inserting the bottle into the bottle hole such that, when the bottle is inserted into the bottle hole, the elastomeric base unit deforms so that the surface area of the elastomeric base unit in contact with the bottle is increased, thereby increasing the frictional force holding the bottle in the fixed position. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more thorough understanding of the present invention, and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a base unit in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of the base unit with grommets for receiving a cord used for hanging the apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  shows an exemplary embodiment of an inverted bottle hanger; 
         FIG. 4  shows another exemplary embodiment of an inverted bottle hanger; 
         FIG. 4  shows an exemplary embodiment of an inverted bottle hanger hanging from a fixture with a bottle disposed in the bottle hole; 
         FIG. 5  shows another exemplary embodiment of an inverted bottle hanger hanging from a fixture with a bottle disposed in the bottle hole. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention include an inverted bottle hanger having a base unit and a means for hanging the apparatus. The means for hanging the apparatus can include a cord, string, rope, plastic fiber, or the like (collectively, “cord”) suitable for hanging the apparatus, alone or in combination with a bottle of personal care product, around a shower head or other suitable hanging location in a bathing environment. The cord can include an adjuster, such as a push-button tensioner, that can be used to form a loop near the middle of the cord, as well as adjust the size of the loop. 
     The base unit can include one or more holes (“cord holes”) to receive the cord and mechanically couple the cord to the base unit. The cord holes can each include a grommet to ruggedize the cord holes and prevent tearing. The base unit can also include a hole (“bottle hole”) adapted in size and shape to hold a variety of common personal care product bottles. The base unit can be made from an elastomeric material that conforms to the shape of a bottle inserted into the bottle hole. The bottle is held in a fixed position within the base unit principally by means of friction between the stretched elastomeric material of the base unit and the surface of the bottle. 
     The bottle can be disposed in the base unit such that, when hanging, the bottle opening is at the lowermost end of the bottle-hanger assembly. A user can hold his or her hand under the bottle-hanger assembly and squeeze the bottle to dispense a portion of the personal care product. Gravity directs the personal care product toward the lowermost end of the bottle such that the personal care product collects near the opening of the bottle and is readily available to be dispensed. 
       FIG. 1  shows a base unit in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Base unit  100  is preferably made from an elastomeric material (e.g., rubber, synthetic rubber, silicone, silicone rubber, flexible plastic, etc.) that is elastic with a smooth flat surface. In at least one embodiment, base unit  100  can be comprised of platinum cure silicone rubber, for example, Dragon Skin® FX-Pro by Smooth-On, Inc. 
     Base unit  100  includes bottle hole  102 . Bottle hole  102  is adapted in size and shape to hold a variety of common personal care product bottles. In a preferred embodiment, bottle hole  102  is a 40 mm diameter hole in the center of base unit  100  that can stretch at least three times its size to conform to the shape of a personal care product bottle. 
     Base unit  100  can have a diamond/rectangular shape including flared ends  106   a  and  106   b , tapered ends  108   a  and  108   b , and gripping surfaces  110   a  and  110   b . In combination, gripping surfaces  110   a  and  110   b  act in a manner similar to a C-clamp against the sides of the bottle, as is described in further detail below. Flared ends  106   a  and  106   b  can include cord holes  104   a  and  104   b . Cord holes  104   a  and  104   b  are adapted in size and shape to receive a cord and mechanically couple the cord to the base unit. Tapered ends  108   a  and  108   b  enable bottle hole  102  to stretch to conform to a bottle more easily, especially for bottles having an ellipse-shaped cross-section. Tapered ends  108   a  and  108   b  also enable base unit  100  to deform in such a way that gripping surfaces  110   a  and  110   b  contact the surface of the bottle so that a greater portion of the surface area of base unit  100  is in contact with the bottle. Having a greater portion of the surface area of base unit  100  in contact with the bottle increases the frictional forces between base unit  100  and the bottle, thereby enabling a bottle of heavier weight to be hung. For example, in at least one embodiment a full bottle of 750 mL of personal care product can be hung. 
       FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of the base unit with grommets for receiving a cord used for hanging the apparatus. Base unit  100  includes cord holes  104   a  and  104   b . Cord holes  104   a  and  104   b  include grommets  202   a  and  202   b  to ruggedize the cord holes and prevent tearing. Grommets  202   a  and  202   b  can be made of any material suitable for reinforcing cord holes  104   a  and  104   b  based on the elastomeric material comprising base unit  100 . For example, grommets  202   a  and  202   b  can be made of rubber, synthetic rubber, silicone, silicone rubber, flexible plastic. 
       FIG. 3  shows an exemplary embodiment of an inverted bottle hanger. Inverted bottle hanger  300  includes base unit  100 , cord  302 , and an adjuster  304 . Inverted bottle hanger  300  can also include grommets  202   a  and  202   b . Cord  302  can comprise a two-millimeter diameter string, preferably a string that is suitable for a wet environment (e.g. nylon). Cord  302  can comprise silicone fused as one unit with base unit  100 . Each end of cord  302  is fed through grommets  202   a  and  202   b . The ends of cord  302  can be looped back on themselves and crimped to form a loop at each end that is fixed to based unit  100  through cord holes  104   a  and  104   b  and grommets  202   a  and  202   b . Cord  302  is of sufficient length such that a bottle is at the proper height for a bather when the bottle is disposed in the bottle hanger and hung from a shower head. Cord  302  can include adjuster  304  for forming loop  306  near the middle of cord  302 , as well as adjust the size of loop  306 . Loop  306  can be used to hang inverted bottle holder  300  in the bathing environment, such as over a shower head, a water valve knob, a spigot, or on a hook mounted on a wall. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  show an exemplary embodiment of an inverted bottle hanger hanging from a fixture with a bottle disposed in the bottle hole. Loop  306  is disposed around fixture  506  so that the inverted bottle holder is suspended by cord  302 . Bottle  502  is inserted into bottle hole  102  of base unit  100 . Bottle  502  is preferably inserted such that bottle opening  504  is at the lowest point (i.e. the bottle is inverted or upside-down). Hanging the bottle opening  504  at the lowest point enables viscous personal care products to collect near bottle opening  504  to facilitate the dispensing of the personal care product. Base unit  100  stretches and conforms to the shape of bottle  502 . The tension in the stretched elastomeric material comprising base unit  100  causes the base unit  100  to grip bottle  502  and hold it in place. Further gripping surfaces  110   a  and  110   b  rotate downward so that all or a greater portion of gripping surfaces  110   a  and  110   b  are in contact with the outer surface of bottle  502 . This increases the surface area of base unit  100  that is in contact with bottle  502 , and increases the frictional forces holding bottle  502  in a fixed position within bottle hole  102 . Further, because the weight of bottle  502  is being supported by cord  302 , cord  302  draws flared ends  106   a  and  106   b  in toward the center of gravity, thereby causing base gripping surfaces  110   a  and  110   b  to also be drawn in and press tighter against bottle  502 . This causes gripping surfaces  110   a  and  110   b  to act in a manner similar to a C-clamp against the sides of bottle  502 , which enables the inverted bottle hanger  300  to hold substantial weight, such as a full 750 mL bottle of personal care product. 
     Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.