US20160059986A1

US20160059986A1 - System and container for liquid saving

Info

Publication number: US20160059986A1
Application number: US14/937,082
Authority: US
Inventors: Juan Bowers; Reginald Bowers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-06-25
Filing date: 2015-11-10
Publication date: 2016-03-03

Abstract

A liquid saving container for use with a bottle comprising: a housing, where the housing receives liquid; a lid attached to the housing; a seam between the housing and the lid, where the seam improves the seal between the lid and housing; an opening at the center of the lid; a neck within the opening, where the neck extends into the housing, and where the neck provides a means to attach a bottle neck into the opening; a closure on the opening, where the closure provides a means to close the opening when not in use. Preferably the liquid saving container includes a weighted base and the seam includes a rubber washer. In one particular embodiment, the opening includes threading to receive the bottle.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/750,076 filed on Jun. 25, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 62/107,047 filed on Jun. 25, 2014.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a container that attaches to a top of a bottle to receive any remaining liquids in the bottle.
2. Description of Related Art
Every household contains a variety of bottles and containers containing viscous liquids like lotions, creams, condiments and the like. During the initial use of these bottles, the liquids easily flow from the bottle and out either onto the user's hand, hair, body or other selected area. By the time the contents of the bottle are running low, it is much harder to obtain the liquid. Often the person hits the bottle neck against their hand to remove the final bits. Another method is to invert the bottle and let the liquid drain to the top. This is often messy when opening the bottle as the remaining liquid rushes from the opening. Another solution, some user's cut open the top of their bottle and then scrape the insides with a small spatula or knife. This way they can reach the furthest corners of the bottle. Finally, some people even add water to wash away the last pieces from the sides and edges.
There are limited products that offer a resolution to this problem. For example, some condiment bottles are designed to be stored inverted with the opening at the bottom. This way gravity is continuously pulling the remaining liquids. Additionally, many lotion bottles include a straw that is long enough to reach into the corners of the bottle. The straw is then able to suck up creams and lotions stuck in the corner. A problem with this is that many times these straws do not easily move, so the user must angle the bottle to get the lotion to drain towards the end. This is often more precarious than simply inverting and hitting the bottle against the hand. Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide a device that assists a user to collect the remaining portions of liquid within their bottles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates a liquid saving container for use with a bottle comprising: a housing, where the housing receives liquid; a lid attached to the housing; a seam between the housing and the lid, where the seam improves the seal between the lid and housing; an opening at the center of the lid; a neck within the opening, where the neck extends into the housing, and where the neck provides a means to attach a bottle neck into the opening; a closure on the opening, where the closure provides a means to close the opening when not in use. Preferably the liquid saving container includes a weighted base and the seam includes a rubber washer. In one particular embodiment, the opening includes threading to receive the bottle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a liquid saving container in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of a liquid saving container in an open potion in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention relates to a container that attaches to a top of a bottle to receive any remaining liquids in the bottle. The present invention provides a liquid saving container to enable a user to collect the remaining liquids within a bottle. The liquid saving container comprises a container with a lid. Within a middle portion of the lid is an opening to receive the top of the bottle. After the liquid saving container is fastened atop the bottle, the bottle is inverted thereby allowing the remaining lotions, body washes, creams and the like. With the liquid saving container the user is afforded a practical way to use their entire bottle of liquid.
Turning now descriptively to the drawing, referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a liquid saving container 10 is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The liquid saving container 10 includes a housing 12 with a lid 14. The lid 14 may screw or snap onto the housing 12. Between the housing 12 and the lid 14 is a seam 16. The seam 16 may include a rubber washer to ensure that the housing 12 remains airtight. At a bottom portion of the housing 12 is a weighted base 18. The weighted base 18 ensures that the liquid saving container 10 remains in place while supporting a bottle.
An opening 20 is preferably positioned at the center of the lid 14. The opening 20 includes to a neck 22 that extends into the housing 12. The opening 20 is threaded to receive a bottle neck. A closure 24 may be provided to seal and cover the opening 20 in order to maintain an airtight seal on the liquid saving container 10. The closure 24 may be a screw on or snap on lid. In one particular embodiment, the closure 24 may also include a hinge that secures the closure 24 to the lid 14, thereby preventing loss during use.
Referring now to FIG. 2 a perspective view of the liquid saving container 10 is shown in accordance with an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The housing 12 may be available in a range of volumes. For example, the housing 12 may receive five ounces, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or the housing 12 may receive 3.5 ounces as illustrated in FIG. 2. The housing 12 sizes may range from two ounces to five ounces. The closure 24 easily removes from the lid 14, therefore enabling attachment to a bottle. The bottle may contain shampoo, conditioner, lotion, body wash, gel, creams or the like. Likewise, the bottle may contain food products such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise and other condiments. The range of possibilities of inner contents of the bottle is endless including but not limited to household items, automotive, school/office supplies and the like.
During use, the liquid saving container 10 is fastened to the bottle at the opening 20. The volume size of the housing 12 may coordinate with the approximate amount of liquid remaining in the bottle. The threaded neck 22 ensures that the bottle is fastened tight. The bottle is then inverted so that the liquid saving container 10 is below the bottle. The weighted base 18 prevents the liquid saving container 10 and the bottle from tipping. While the bottle is upside down the inner contents drain into the housing 12 of the liquid saving container 10. After a few minutes, a few hours or even a few days, the last of the liquid within the bottle will drain into the housing 12, and the bottle may be removed. The closure 24 is then replaced onto the lid 14. The user may then use the remaining liquid by removing the lid 14 from the housing 12. With the liquid saving container 10 liquids are not wasted by being thrown away with the bottle. The user is able to save money by using the entire contents of the bottle.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid saving container for use with a bottle comprising:

a. a housing, where the housing receives liquid;

b. a lid attached to the housing;

c. a seam between the housing and the lid, where the seam improves the seal between the lid and housing;

d. an opening at the center of the lid;

e. a neck within the opening, where the neck extends into the housing, and where the neck provides a means to attach a bottle neck into the opening;

f. a closure on the opening, where the closure provides a means to close the opening when not in use.

2. The liquid saving container according to claim 1, further including a weighted base.

3. The liquid saving container according to claim 1, where the seam includes a rubber washer.

4. The liquid saving container according to claim 1, where the opening includes threading to receive the bottle.

5. A method of obtaining remaining liquid from a bottle comprising the steps of:

a. attaching a bottle to an opening of a saving container;

b. tightening the bottle into the opening;

c. inverting the bottle and container, where the bottle is positioned upside down;

d. allowing any remaining liquid in the bottle to transfer to the container;

e. removing the bottle from the opening after the remaining liquid drains into the container; and

f. placing a closure over the opening.