Patent Abstract:
An advanced spray bottle facilitates complete emptying of liquid in its container even as the container is rotated and tilted. The container has a primary chamber with a raised floor that has a syncline shape and that forms a sluice channel. The raised floor slopes downward across the container to route fluids to a lowest point of the sluice channel. An indent in the container provides a cavity for further capture and concentration of liquids. The container is shaped to guide a bottom aperture of the uptake tube to the lowest point of the sluice channel. The bottom aperture of the uptake tube is angled so as to better fit within the lowest point of the sluice channel. A secondary chamber at the base of the container, with an egress to the primary chamber holds additional solids and liquids. Alternate add-on bases for the container provide additional functionality.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to fluid dispensing containers, and more specifically to advanced spray bottles designed to facilitate access to the entire content of the bottle. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    Spray bottles of various sizes can be found in households, industry, the government, and the military. They allow for the dissemination of fluids through spray action for a variety of uses, including cleaning, polishing, and chemical application. Spray bottles on the market, however, suffer from substantial shortcomings. For example, when the level of liquid in a spray bottle is low, the tube that transfers the liquid up to the sprayer mechanism is often not in contact with a sufficient amount of liquid to ensure reliable spray action. Also, tilting the container so as to orient the spray nozzle head at a desired target often reorients the liquid in the container so that the liquid is not positioned to ensure reliable spray action. As such, a significant amount of the liquid in a spray bottle can become inaccessible to a user unless the spray bottle is disassembled. Moreover, additional items such as wipes and auxiliary chemicals are not readily at hand. What is needed is a spray bottle that overcomes these and other shortcomings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention provides an advanced spray bottle in the form of an exemplary spray bottle assembly  10 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , spray bottle assembly  10  comprises a container  20  having a first side  23  and a second side  22  opposite the first side. The container  20  includes a top collar  24  and a sidewall  21 , the sidewall  21  having an inner surface  21   a  and an outer surface  21   b . Container  20  also includes a raised floor  28  with a syncline shape at  28   a , and a level bottom edge  27  located below the raised floor  28 . A first chamber  53  is formed between top collar  24  and raised floor  28 , encompassed by the inner surface  21   a  of sidewall  21 . A second chamber  26 , situated below the first chamber  53 , is formed between raised floor  28  and bottom edge  27 , and is also encompassed by the inner surface  21   a  of sidewall  21 . The syncline shape at  28   a  of the raised floor  28  forms a sluice channel  29  from the first side  23  of the container  20  to the second side  22  of the container  20 . 
         [0004]    The spray bottle assembly  10  may further include a sprayer assembly  40  with a main spray head  41 , a sprayer nozzle  44  with a spray port  45 , a spray trigger  43 , and a spray head internal tube  46 . Spray head internal tube  46  attaches to main spray head  41 . In spray bottle assembly  10 , sprayer assembly  40  attaches to container  20 . 
         [0005]    Raised floor  28  of container  20  has a downward slope from the first side  23  of container  20  to the second side  22  of container  20 . Because of the downward slope, sluice channel  29  is at a higher elevation at the first side  23  of container  20  than at the second side  22  of container  20 , facilitating fluid accumulation. An indent  50  may also be situated at the second side  22  of container  20  to further aid in fluid accumulation as container  20  is tilted. 
         [0006]    A swivel adaptor  47  attaches to spray head internal tube  46 , and an uptake tube  30  attaches to swivel adaptor  47 . The first side  23  of container  20  is curved inward toward the second side  22  such that the uptake tube  30  is pushed toward the second side  22 . Uptake tube  30  includes a bottom aperture  34  located at a lowest point  33  of sluice channel  29 . The bottom aperture  34  of uptake tube  30  is angled in proportion to the syncline shape at  28   a  of the raised bottom  28  to enhance access to accumulated fluid. 
         [0007]    The above spray bottle assembly  10  facilitates the most complete emptying of the liquid in container  20  even as container  20  is tilted and rotated by a user. Because of the downward slope of raised bottom  28 , and because of the syncline shape at  28   a , container  20  accumulates even very small quantities of fluid at lowest point  33  of sluice channel  29 . The curved uptake tube  30  and the curved first side  23  of container  20  help position the bottom aperture  34  of uptake tube  30  at the lowest point  33  of sluice channel  29  to permit access to all the accumulated fluid. The angled shape of bottom aperture  34  ensures that uptake tube  30  can access the fluid at the very bottom of sluice channel  29 . Indent  50  forms a secondary cavity  54  for holding fluid at the lowest point  33  of sluice channel  29  even as the user tilts and rotates container  20 . Indent  50  may also serve as a storage adaptor that permits spray bottle assembly  10 , for example, to be hung from a hook or a rung of a ladder. Moreover, second chamber  26  below first chamber  53  holds additional solids, particulate matter, liquids, and applicators for use with the content of the first chamber  53 . 
         [0008]    The objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Features, aspects, and advantages of exemplary versions of the present invention may be demonstrated by the following non-limiting figures, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective rear-angled view of one exemplary spray bottle assembly of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2   a  is a back plan view of the spray bottle assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2   b  is a side plan view of the spray bottle assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2   c  is a front plan view of the spray bottle assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a rear plan view of the spray bottle assembly of  FIG. 2   a  showing three cut-away views illustrating alternative internal sluice configurations: 
           [0015]      FIG. 3   a  is a cut-away of a first embodiment of the bottom section of the spray bottle assembly of  FIG. 2   a , taken at line  71  of  FIG. 3 , and shows a “V” shaped sluice channel; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3   b  is a cut-away of a second embodiment of the bottom section of the spray bottle assembly of  FIG. 2   a , taken at line  71  of  FIG. 3 , and shows a “curve” shaped sluice channel; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3   c  is a cut-away of a third embodiment of the bottom section of the spray bottle assembly of  FIG. 2   a , taken at line  71  of  FIG. 3 , and shows a “rectangular” shaped sluice channel; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  illustrate perspective views of the spray bottle assembly of  FIG. 2   a  with first alternate cut-away views:  FIG. 4   c , taken at line  73  of  FIG. 4   a , and  FIG. 4   d , taken at line  74  of  FIG. 4   b , respectively. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  illustrate perspective views of alternative embodiments of the spray bottle assembly of  FIG. 2   a  with second alternate cut-away views:  FIG. 5   c , taken at line  76  of  FIG. 5   a , and  FIG. 5   d , taken at line  77  of  FIG. 5   b , respectively: 
           [0020]      FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  illustrate alternate perspective views of the spray bottle assembly of  FIG. 2   a  with an attached base add-on, and with alternate cut-away views:  FIG. 6   c , taken at line  92  of  FIG. 6   a , and  FIG. 6   d , taken at line  93  of  FIG. 6   b , respectively: 
           [0021]      FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  illustrates alternate perspective views of the spray bottle assembly of  FIG. 2   a  with an attached base add-on and with alternate cut-away views:  FIG. 7   c , taken at line  100  of  FIG. 7   a ,  FIG. 7   d , taken at line  101  of  FIG. 7   b , and  FIG. 7   e , taken at line  102  of  FIG. 7   b , respectively. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    An exemplary spray bottle assembly  10  is shown in  FIG. 1 . Spray bottle assembly  10  includes a container  20  attached to a sprayer assembly  40  via a screw-on cap  42 , where screw-on cap  42  attaches to container  20  via cap-container interface threads  48 . Sprayer assembly  40  includes a main spray head  41 , spray trigger  43 , and sprayer nozzle  44 . Screw-on cap  42  houses spray head internal uptake tube  46 , which attaches to swivel adaptor  47 . 
         [0023]    Spray bottle assembly  10  includes an uptake tube  30  attached to sprayer assembly  40  through swivel adaptor  47 . The bottom of swivel adaptor  47  attaches to a top connector section  31  of uptake tube  30 . Uptake tube  30  is inserted into container  20  substantially perpendicular to the base of screw-on cap  42 , where it seats against a top collar  24  of container  20 . Uptake tube  30  has a curvature  35  and a bottom aperture  34 . The curvature  35  of uptake tube  30  provides a contact point  32  with container  20 . Swivel adaptor  47  permits main spray head  41  to rotate without changing the position of uptake tube  30  within container  20 . 
         [0024]    Container  20  of spray bottle assembly  10  includes a raised floor  28  and a bottom edge  27  below raised floor  28 . The bottom edge  27  is level so that container  20  may rest on a platform (not pictured) without tipping over. Bottom edge  27  has a rim  61  that can accept a bottom cap  60  (not shown in this view). Raised floor  28  connects to the container  20  at floor edge  25 . A first chamber  53  is situated between top collar  24  and raised floor  28 , and a second chamber  26  is located between raised floor  28  and bottom edge  27 . A sidewall  21  includes an inner surface  21   a  facing the first chamber  53  and the second chamber  26 , and an outer surface  21   b  facing the outside of spray bottle assembly  10 . Sidewall  21  holds the contents of first chamber  53  and second chamber  26  within container  20 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , container  20  includes a first side  23 , a second side  22  opposite the first side  23 , and a syncline shape at  28   a  for raised floor  28 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the first side  23  of container  20  is curved inward toward second side  22 . The syncline shape at  28   a  forms a sluice channel  29  in raised floor  28  for accumulating the fluid in container  20 . Raised floor  28  also has a downward slope from first side  23  to second side  22 . This provides a lowest point  33  of sluice channel  29 , where even small amounts of fluid can accumulate. The curved first side  23  presses against uptake tube  30  at contact point  32  such that bottom aperture  34  remains at lowest point  33 . The bottom aperture  34  of uptake tube  30  is additionally angled so that it better mates with the syncline shape at  28   a  of sluice channel  29 . Such positioning of the angled bottom aperture  34  at lowest point  33  permits spray bottle assembly  10  to act on extremely low levels of fluid in container  20 . 
         [0026]    The second side  22  of container  20  may include an indent  50  with a top slope  51  and a bottom slope  52 . Indent  50  provides a secondary cavity  54  for holding fluid when container  20  is being tilted by a user. The size of secondary cavity  54  can be increased or decreased by enlarging or shrinking indent  50 , respectively. Indent  50  is positioned at the second side  22  so that the fluid that accumulates at lowest point  33  of sluice channel  29  can be captured within secondary cavity  54  despite the orientation of container  20 . Bottom aperture  34  of uptake tube  30 , when located at the lowest point  33  of sluice channel  29 , is below bottom slope  52  of indent  50 . Secondary cavity  54 , provided by indent  50 , acts as a supplementary area of containment such that fluid in container  20  can be captured and made available for passage through uptake tube  30  via bottom aperture  34 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 2   a , a rear view of the spray bottle assembly  10  of  FIG. 1  shows the syncline shape at  28   a  of raised floor  28 . Sluice channel  29  is shown vertically, representing the downward slope from the first side  23  (visible in  FIG. 2   a ) of container  20  to the second side  22  (hidden in  FIG. 2   a , visible in  FIG. 2   c ). As such, sluice channel  29  begins at a higher elevation at the first side  23  of container  20  and terminates at lowest point  33 . Because of the downward slope, the fluid in container  20  is gravitationally drawn along sluice channel  29  to lowest point  33 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 2   b  shows the sluice channel  29  of downward sloping raised floor  28 . Also shown in  FIG. 2   b  is a middle indent section  55  of indent  50 . In  FIG. 2   c , sprayer nozzle  44  is shown including a spray port  45 , out of which the fluid in container  20  sprays.  FIG. 2   c  also shows a front-view outline of indent  50 . 
         [0029]    A rear-view of spray bottle assembly  10  is shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C of bottom portion  70  of container  20  are depicted and show three variations of the sluice channel configuration. Depicted in  FIG. 3A  is a cross section of raised bottom  28  attached to sidewall  21  at floor edge  25 . Sluice channel  29  is shown with the syncline shape at  28   a  forming a “V” shape. Depicted in  FIG. 3B  is a cross section of raised bottom  28  attached to sidewall  21  at floor edge  25 . Sluice channel  101  is shown with the syncline shape at  28   a  forming a curved shape. Depicted in  FIG. 3C  is a cross section of raised bottom  28  attached to sidewall  21  at floor edge  25 . Sluice channel  102  is shown with the syncline shape at  28   a  forming a rectangular shape. In effect, the syncline shape at  28   a  of raised floor  28  provides a downward “dip,” away from top collar  24  toward bottom edge  27 , for accumulating small amounts of fluid. It is also noted that floor edge  26  is at a higher elevation than the bottom of the dip of sluice channel  29 , so that fluid in first chamber  53  is gravitationally drawn to the bottom of sluice channel  29 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  depict cut-away views  FIG. 4   c  and  FIG. 4   d , respectively, of the bottom portion  FIG. 4   a  and  FIG. 4   b , showing two alternative exemplary versions of spray bottle assembly  10 . 
         [0031]    Cut-away view  FIG. 4   c  depicts a rear view of an exemplary bottom portion  72  of container  20 . First chamber  53  is shown with the syncline shape at  28   a  of raised bottom  28  attached to sidewall  21  at floor edge  25 . In this version, a solid, liquid, or particulate  64  is shown in the second chamber  26  between the syncline shape at  28   a  of the raised bottom  28  and the bottom edge  27  of container  20 . Rim  61  of bottom cap  60  spans the circumference of bottom edge  27 , and bottom cap  60  acts as a retention device for solid, liquid, or particulate  64 . Solid, liquid, or particulate  64  may be dispensable by the removal of bottom cap  60 . 
         [0032]    Cut-away view  FIG. 4   d  depicts a rear view of another exemplary bottom portion  72  of container  20 . In this version, second chamber  26  is shown empty of any solid, liquid, or particulate  64 . Bottom cap  60  is shown separated from second chamber  26  and bottom edge  27  of container  20 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 5   a  and  FIG. 5   b  depict views cut-away views  FIG. 5   c  and  FIG. 5   d , respectively, of bottom portion  75 , showing two additional exemplary versions of spray bottle assembly  10 . 
         [0034]    Cut-away view  FIG. 5   c  shows the bottom portion  75  of container  20  with a cross section of raised bottom  28  attached to sidewall  21  at floor edge  25 . In this version, second chamber  26  includes a compressed applicator  62 . Bottom cap  60  acts as a retention device for compressed applicator  62 . 
         [0035]    Cut-away view  FIG. 5   d  depicts a rear view of another version of bottom portion  75 . In this version, second chamber  26  is shown empty. An uncompressed applicator  63  attached to bottom cap  60  is shown free of its confinement within the second chamber  26 . The removal of the applicator  63  attached to bottom cap  60  allows the applicator  63  to expand from it stored size of  FIG. 5   c  to its expanded size of  FIG. 5   d . Applicator  63  may be usable with the content of first chamber  53  or with the solid, liquid, or particulate  64  stored in second chamber  26 . 
         [0036]      FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  depict cut-away views  92  and  93  depicting two further exemplary versions of spray bottle assembly  10 . 
         [0037]    Cut away view  FIG. 6   c  shows a base add-on  90  (shown as cut-away view  FIG. 6   d  in  FIG. 6   b ) attached to the bottom edge  27  of container  20 . In  FIG. 6   c , bottom edge  27  of container  20  is inserted into, and is parallel with, base add-on  90 . Base add-on  90  in  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  has an interior space  81  and an exterior wall  82 , and exterior wall  82  includes a hollow wall interior  83 . Bottom edge  27  of container  20  butts against, and has its movement stopped by, an interior boss  84 . Placement of bottom edge  27  into interior space  81  creates a uniform seal between bottom edge  27  and base add-on  90 , such that base add-on  90  acts as a new bottom surface for container  20 . This bottom surface includes a base pad  89  having a bottom side  88 . Base pad  89  enlarges the overall footprint of container  20 , as a top side  87  of base pad  89  projects outward parallel with the bottom side  88 . Such outward projection results in a broad base, serving to stabilize container  20  when placed on uneven or tilted surfaces. The bottom side  88  of base pad  89  can also have a traction-enhancing non-slip surface (not shown) so that container  20  can be placed on a wet or moving surface without slipping. 
         [0038]    This arrangement also provides a large cavity, comprising interior space  81  and second chamber  26 , between raised bottom  28  and an interior bottom  85  of base add-on  90 . Here, base add-on  90 , which includes top edge  86 , forms a sealed container that is capable of holding a solid, liquid, or particulate  64  within its confines. 
         [0039]      FIG. 7   a  and  FIG. 7   b  show a base add-on  110  shown as a cut-away view in  FIG. 7   c  and  FIG. 7   e .  FIG. 7   d  shows a cut-away view depicting the bottom portion  101  of container  20  of a variant version of spray bottle assembly  10 . 
         [0040]    Cut-away view  FIG. 7   c  depicts the union of the two parts of a dual chamber access system of a variant version of spray bottle assembly  10 . 
         [0041]    Cut-away view  FIG. 7   d  and  FIG. 7   e  depict the two separate parts of a dual chamber access system of a variant version of spray bottle assembly  10 . 
         [0042]    Cut away  FIG. 7   c  shows a base add-on  110  (shown individually as  FIG. 7   e  and attached to the container  20  in cut-away view  FIG. 7   c ) attached to the bottom edge  27  of container  20 . In  FIG. 7   a , bottom edge  27  of container  20  is inserted into, and is parallel with, base add-on  110 . Base add-on  110  in  FIGS. 7   c  and  7   e  has an interior space  181  and an exterior wall  182 , and exterior wall  182  includes a hollow wall interior  183 . Bottom edge  27  of container  20  butts against, and has its movement stopped by, an interior boss  184 . Placement of bottom edge  27  into interior space  181  creates a uniform seal between bottom edge  27  and base add-on  110 , such that base add-on  110  acts as a new bottom surface for container  20 . This bottom surface includes a base pad  189  having a bottom side  188 . Base pad  189  enlarges the overall footprint of container  20 , as a top side  187  of base pad  189  projects outward parallel with the bottom side  188 . Such outward projection results in a broad base, serving to stabilize container  20  when placed on uneven or tilted surfaces. The bottom side  188  of base pad  189  can also have a traction-enhancing non-slip surface (not shown) so that container  20  can be placed on a wet or moving surface without slipping. 
         [0043]    In this variant of spray bottle assembly  10 , as shown in cut-away view  FIG. 7   e , the base add-on  110  has a central vertical post  103  protruding from the interior bottom  185  of base add-on  110 . When the base add-on  110  is placed on the bottom of container  20  as shown in  FIG. 7   a  and cut-away view  FIG. 7   c  the tip  104  of the central vertical post  103  protrudes from the interior bottom  185  of base add-on  110  to a length which impacts a flap seal  105  which covers opening  107  and central vertical post  103  passes through opening  107  in the interior raised bottom  108  of the container  20 . When central vertical post  103  passes through opening  107  it forces the flap seal  105  in the interior raised bottom  108  of the container  20  to open via its hinge  106 . The flap seal  105  is normally sealed via its hinge  106  to the interior raised bottom  108  of the container  20  as shown in cut-away view  FIG. 7   d  of  FIG. 7   b . The flap seal  105  is attached to the upper surface of raised bottom  108  of the first chamber  53  in a manner which covers and seals the opening  107  and the weight of the solid, liquid, or particulate  64  contents of first chamber  53  holds flap seal  105  in communication with the raised bottom  108  and seals opening  107 . When flap seal  105  is held open by central vertical post  103 , as shown in  FIG. 7   c , the opening  107  can communicate solid, liquid, or particulate  64  contents from first chamber  53  to the second chamber  181  which is created by the joining of base add-on  110  to container  20 . The base add-on  110  may be removed from the bottom of container  20 , as shown in  FIG. 7   b , to refill its contents. When the base add-on  110  is removed from the bottom of container  20 , as shown in  FIG. 7   b  the central vertical post  103  is withdrawn from the opening  107  and flap seal  105  via its hinge  106  reseals opening  107 , as shown in  FIG. 7   d , and prevents egress of any further solid, liquid, or particulate  64  content from first chamber  53 . 
         [0044]    It is understood that the invention is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, but embraces such modified forms thereof as come within the scope of the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1