Abstract:
A spill-resistant container has a low center of gravity and a wide base to increase its stability and prevent being overturned. The container has a wide bottom, a top less wide than the bottom and ribs, channels and/or coating to facilitate gripping of the container. The base of the container has a removably attachable and bottom to facilitate stacking and cleaning of the containers. The neck region and body design of the container allows stacking of the containers when stored.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/617,715, filed Mar. 30, 2012, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in its entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of Endeavor 
         [0005]    The present invention relates to containers resistant to spilling or being overturned. More particularly, the invention relates to a vessel having a wide base, a low center of gravity, along with a gripping feature, and has a removable bottom allowing for easier cleaning and storage in a stackable nesting fashion when not in use. 
         [0006]    2. Background Information 
         [0007]    Use of special containers for children designed to train them to drink from a container instead of a baby bottle are in common use today. Known as “sippy” containers, there are many varieties available. However, the use of sippy containers has become controversial because those that are spill-proof typically have a valve feature that requires the child to suck in order to obtain a drink. Not only do these containers not teach a child how to drink from a container, this can lead to the habit of the child&#39;s sucking the container&#39;s mouthpiece while lying down, as if it were a baby bottle. In addition, it is thought that these containers may lead to poor oral hygiene and other undesirable affects. 
         [0008]    A child&#39;s first teeth, which are deciduous and often called “baby teeth” are important to both the child&#39;s health and to his future permanent teeth. As a baby or young child, tooth decay can cause inability to chew food, speech impediments and cause a child to have an unattractive smile. Deciduous teeth hold space in the jaw for the permanent teeth as well. If a deciduous tooth is lost prematurely neighboring teeth can drift into the empty space. This can cause crooked and crowded permanent teeth requiring orthodontics and other adult tooth problems. 
         [0009]    The most common areas for decay are the upper four front teeth. Baby bottle tooth decay occurs when a baby lies down with a bottle that is filled with a liquid such as milk, formula, fruit juice, or a sweet liquid like soda pop or a sugary drink. When these liquids stay on the teeth for extended periods of time, the sugar and bacteria contained therein start to decay the teeth. Warnings about baby bottle tooth decay extend to small children using spill-proof training (“sippy”) containers. Many childhood experts, including the American Dental Association, state that children should start drinking from a container at about the age of one year, and advise only temporary use of training containers because of the possibility of prolonged contact with deciduous teeth and sugary liquids, as has just been described. 
         [0010]    Standard containers are typically made with a small base and a larger opening from which to drink. This is largely in part due to manufacturing; it is easier to remove a so shaped container from a mold. A container with this shape is frequently tipped over accidentally by children. Small children also have relatively poor motor skills and may also have difficulty firmly grasping a container and often drop items they are holding. Young kids also spill drinks with the use of a standard container by dribbling the liquid out of the corners of their mouth because the opening in the top of the container is too large and liquid overflows their mouth, causing a spill down the front of their shirt or dress. A standard container also leads to splashes out of the top of the container as a child carries a drink around the house. This leads to further frustration for parents with the need for the floor or carpet to be cleaned. Thus, if a child is not to use a “sippy” container, then he/she is likely to spill drinks frequently, causing extra work and aggravation for his or her parents and other caregivers. 
         [0011]    Other sectors of the population that may have problems with spilled drinks are beer drinkers who are drinking their beer from a tap or keg and using a typical plastic disposable container. These containers also have a large opening in the top and a small base making them inherently unstable. Drinks are frequently spilled while at stadiums or parties. Boating enthusiasts are also in need of a stable container that can better handle turbulence at sea and can also provide space savings with a stacking feature. 
         [0012]    While wide base stable containers exist, as one sees most frequently as a coffee mug, or a thermo mug as documented by Allen, et al in U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,995 these containers take up considerable storage space due to their inability to stack. This inability to stack also leads to decreased efficiency during shipping and displaying of goods in the marketplace. And while these containers are more stable and harder to spill, the more narrow top opening also makes it more difficult for someone to get their hand inside the container to clean the inside and bottom of the container. 
         [0013]    It is therefore desirable to provide a container that is difficult to spill, easily held firm and can be more effectively and efficiently stored and cleaned. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a spill-resistant container having a low center of gravity and a wide base to increase the difficulty with which the center of gravity is sufficiently displaced such that the container spills over. 
         [0015]    The container comprises a body that includes a neck region, an open top, an open base, and a removably attachable bottom. The body has a cross sectional dimension opening at the base that is wider than the cross sectional dimension opening at the top. The body of the container may be substantially frustoconical or truncated cone shaped. Multiple container bodies are therefore stackable in a nesting position when the bottoms are not in place. The “container” does not effectively become a container until the bottom is in place and it will not hold liquid without the bottom in place. 
         [0016]    The body of the container also has a neck region. The neck region may be cylindrical. The neck region may include a gripping means, such as one or more ribs, one or more channels and/or one or more coatings of material to enhance the gripping means. The top opening in the container may extend outward so that it is wider than the neck region. The removable bottom of the container may include an annular flange to assist with removing bottom or further enhance stability. The removable bottoms may stackable as well. The removable bottom of the container may have a handle attached that will not interfere with the stacking. 
         [0017]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a container that resists spilling. 
         [0018]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a container that resists spilling, is easily held, easily cleaned and stacked. 
         [0019]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view of a container in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a series of nested containers in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of series of nested bases in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5   a  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a container in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5   b  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a container in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5   c  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a container in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5   d  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a container in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5   e  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a container in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5   f  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the bottom of the container and the base of  FIG. 5   e  in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of a container in accordance with the principles of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a container  10  having a body  12  with a bottom  14  wider than its top  16 . Container  10  may be comprised of plastic, paper or other materials which are commonly used to fabricate disposable containers. Alternatively, container  10  may be comprised of one or more materials used for nondisposable containers such as plastics, wood, metal, composite materials, glass or any other desired material from which drinking vessels may be constructed. In this embodiment, the body  12  is slightly convex, which may increase the volume in relation to surface area, thus increasing the storage capacity of the container  10 . The convex frustoconical shape of the body  12  may also cause the center of gravity of the container  10  to be lower than that of a cylindrical container, thereby increasing the container&#39;s  10  stability and reducing the likelihood of tipping over. In this embodiment, the body  12  is convex, but the body may optionally be concave, angular or purely frustoconical without any curvature. Optionally, it may be comprised of a conical prismatic shape, for example having radial symmetry and a transverse cross section of a hexagon, octogon or other polygon or may have an ellipsoid cross-section. 
         [0034]    Body  12  also may have a neck region  18  where the body  12  approaches the top  16 , and may have one or more annular ribs  20  that may enable more secure grasping of the container  10 . The neck region  18  may also include other means for enhance a firm grip on the container  10 , such as for example a knurled surface, channels, grooves, coatings of a material that enhances static friction, and/or a rubber coating. These may provide relatively static friction to the neck region  18 , thus facilitating firm gripping of the container  10  by an operator. The neck region  18  of the container may be more cylindrical than the rest of the body  12  so as to increase the ease of firmly gripping the container  10  by an operator. Optionally, the neck region  18  may be sloped to a lesser degree, or to an equal degree as the rest of the container  10 . The top  16  may include a lip  17  that may comprise a protruding annular ring about the rim of the container  10 . 
         [0035]    The container may also include a base  22  that may be removably attachable to the bottom  14  of the body  12 . Base  22  may be removably attached by threading, a tongue and groove mechanism, friction or other mechanisms that may provide a hermetic seal. In this embodiment, base  22  is screwed on to the bottom  14  of the body  12 . The bottom  14  may include an annular flange, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The annular flange and the threading of the bottom  14  and the base  22  may add mass to the outside bottom  14  of the body  12 , thereby shifting the center of gravity of the container further downward toward the bottom  14  and the base  22 . The mass on the outside perimeter of the bottom  14  and the base  22  may also further inhibit tipping over or spilling of the container  10 . Because the base  22  may be removed from the bottom  14 , the interior of the container  10  may be more easily cleaned. The removable base  22  may also allow multiple container bodies  12  to be stacked by nesting inside one another. 
         [0036]    Base  22  may have a textured outside wall  24  that extends about the periphery of the base  22 . The outside wall may have a series of indentations as shown in  FIG. 2 . Optionally, outside wall  24  may include gripping enhancing features, such as for exampled, it may be knurled, grooved, coated with a material providing static friction, rubberized or otherwise modified to ease removable affixation of the base  22  to the bottom  14 . Base  22  may also include a region on the bottom  28 , providing increased static friction, such as for example a rubber pad  26 . In this embodiment, rubber pad  26  forms and annular ring adjacent to the outside wall  24 . Optionally, rubber pad  26  may cover the entire bottom  28  or may comprise a plurality of rubber pads. Alternatively, other materials or structures may be used to reduce horizontal slipping of the container about a surface upon which it is placed. Further, the bottom  28  of the base  22  may include a logo, design or other aesthetic or source indicating feature. Optionally, the base may include one or more handles extending upwardly. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  shows cross section of a series  50  of three nested containers  51 , each having a body  52 , a neck region  58  and a bottom  54 . Threading  57  on each of the bottoms  54  allows removable attachment of a base as shown in  FIG. 4  below. The containers  51  have configurations similar to containers  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The containers  51  have frustoconical bodies  52  that have wider diameters than neck regions  58 . Thus, the neck regions  58  and the bodies  52  are sized such that the neck region  58  may fit within the body  52  or another container  51 . This allows the containers  51  to be nested by placing a container&#39;s neck region  58  inside the body  52  of another container  51 . Multiple containers  51  may be nested, or stacked, in this fashion to consolidate space when storing multiple containers  51 . Threading  57  may also be seen at the bottom  54  of each container  51  just below the annular flange located at the bottom  54 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-section of a series  60  of 3 nested bases  62 . Bases  62  are similar to the bases  22  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . An annular rubber pad  65  may be located on the bottom  68  of each base  62 . Threading  67  on the inside of outside walls  64  may facilitate removable attachment to the bottom of a container. Further, lip  69  that may enhance sealing between the base  62  and a container may also be seen. Each of the outside walls  64  may include a small shoulder  63  adjacent to the bottom  68 , which may allow nesting of the outside walls  64  of a base  62  with a base placed directly on top of it. Thus, the bases  62  may be stored in a space conserving manner. 
         [0039]      FIG. 5   a  shows an alternative embodiment of a container  70 . Container  70  may have a top  76 . Having a lip  77  formed by an annular protrusion about top  76 . neck region  78  is substantially cylindrical and extends downward from the top  76 . Body  72  may be a convex frustoconical shape, similar to the body  12  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The body  72  may extend from the neck region  78  to the bottom  73 . A base  75  may be removably attachable to the bottom  73 . Container  70  may be slightly smaller than container  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Container  70  may include to annular rings  79 . In this embodiment, one ring  79  may be located on the neck region  78 . While one ring  79  may be located on the body  72 , somewhat close to where the body  72  and the neck region  78  meet. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5   b  shows an alternative embodiment of a container  80 . Container  80  has a top  86 . Neck region  88  may extend from the top  86  to the body  82 . Neck region  88  may be substantially cylindrical and may include a single annular ring  89 . Body  82  may be frusto-conical, or may be convex frustoconical. Body  82  extends to the bottom  83 . Bottom  83  may be removably attachable to base  82 . In this embodiment, base  82  may incorporate lighting that may blink or glow in order to add and aesthetic effect. Optionally, one or more bases may be used interchangeably, each providing a different effect. Optionally lighting may be incorporated into the body of the container. Other ornamental features may optionally be included. 
         [0041]      FIG. 5   c  shows an alternative embodiment of a container  80 . The bottom  82  is wider than the top  84 . In this embodiment, the container  80  may consist of a plurality of cylinders  86 ,  88 , and  90  which may be successively smaller along the height of the container  80 . The lower portion  86  is the widest cylinder, middle portion  88  is smaller than lower portion  86  and top portion  90  is smaller than middle portion  88 . Top portion  90  may include an annular channel  92  to facilitate gripping. Optionally, top portion  90  may include one or more ribs or a plurality of channels and may optionally include coating to enhance gripping. Base  94  may attach to the bottom  82  by snapping on to groove  96  at the periphery of an annular ring  98  extending downward from the bottom  82  of the container  80 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 5   d  shows an alternative embodiment of a container  100  having a frustoconical body  101  which may provide a low center of gravity. A neck region  102  may have a plurality of grooves to enhance gripping. The bottom  104  may have a threaded cuff  106  that extends downward and allows for removable attachment of base  108 . Base  108  may have a knurled outside wall  110  that facilitates firmly and securely engaging the base  108  with threaded cuff  106  by screwing the cuff and bases together. The base  108  may include a shoulder  116  at the bottom of the outside wall  110 . This may allow base  108  to be nested in series with other bases  108  similar to the bases shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 5   e  shows a cross-sectional view of another alternative embodiment of a container  130  with frustoconical body  132  having a neck region  136 . The body  132  may be comprised of an outer wall  133  and an inner wall  137 , thereby creating a void space  134  that may be filled with air or other insulating material. Neck region  136  may have a grip enhancing rubber ring  135  that is formed separately and affixed to the neck region  136 . Rubber ring  135  may be removably or permanently attached. The inside of bottom  138  may be threaded such that it may engage the protruding threaded region  140  of base  142 . Base  142  may also have an outer flange  144  that may optionally be threaded and engageable with the outside of bottom  138 . Base  142  may be nested with other similar bases to facilitate storage. 
         [0044]      FIG. 5   f  shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the bottom  138  and base  142  of  FIG. 5   e . The bottom  138  of container  130  includes an annular flange  139  and cuff  145  having interior threading. The threading of cuff  145  engages with the threading of region  140 . Outer flange  144  extends about cuff  145 . The base  142  may optionally include an O-ring  141 . O-ring  141  may assist in facilitating hermetic sealing between container  130  and base  142 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 6  shows another alternative embodiment of a container  150  that may include multiple components. The container  150  may have a top  154  having a protruding annular lip  156 . A neck region,  160  may be substantially cylindrical and extend downward from the top  154 . A body  152  may have a convex frustoconical shape. Annular rings  158  may be located on the neck region,  164  on the body  152 . In this embodiment, one ring  158  is located on the neck region close to the point where the body  152  intersects the  60 . Another annular ring  158  is located near the top of the body  152 . The bottom  162  of the container  150  has an annular flange  164  and a downwardly extending threaded cuff  166 . 
         [0046]    A base  168  may be removably attachable to the bottom  162  of the container  150 . The base  168  may include an O-ring or other features. A handle attachment ring  170  may be removably attachable to the base  168 . The handle attachment ring  170  may be attachable to the base  168  by any suitable mechanical means, such as for example frictional attachment, threading, tongue and groove, and the like. The handle attachment ring  170  may have one or more upwardly extending handles  172 . It may be desirable to provide removable attachment of handles  172  to a container  150  depending upon the age and dexterity of the person using the container  150 . Handles may be provided extending upward from the bottom of a container and being a permanent part of the body. However, it may be desirable to include them as part of an optional attachment as shown here. Optionally, the handles may be attached to the top of a container and extend downward. 
         [0047]    Container  150  may also include one or more attachments for removable attachment to the top  154 . Sippy cup attachment  174  may be removably attached to the top  154 . Optionally, sippy cup attachment  174  may snap on to the top  154  by interacting with the lip  156 . Nipple attachment  176  may also be removably attached to the top  154 , and such attachment may be facilitated by interacting with the lip  156 . By providing several attachments, such as handle attachment ring  170 , sippy cup attachment  174  and nipple attachment  176 , a person may continue using the same familiar container  150  throughout several stages of infancy and childhood. 
         [0048]    Whereas, the present invention has been described in relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention. Descriptions of the embodiments shown in the drawings should not be construed as limiting or defining the ordinary and plain meanings of the terms of the claims unless such is explicitly indicated. 
         [0049]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.