Container that can be removeably adhered to a shower wall

• US 10,351,300 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2018
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonoco Development Inc (Sonoco Products Company)
• Original Assignee: Sonoco Development Inc (Sonoco Products Company)
• Inventors: Hartley, Scott Huntington
• Primary Examiner(s): Sterling, Amy J.
• Application Number:
  US16/176,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20190061999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 258 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 23/003 Suspension means

Abstract

A flexible container that can be affixed to a vertical surface such as a shower wall is provided. The container comprises a wall and a substrate affixed to the wall. The substrate may define a plurality of integrally formed recesses that can create a suction fit with the vertical surface.

Claims

1. A method of adhering a container to a shower wall comprising:

providing the container comprising a flexible front wall, a flexible rear wall that is substantially coextensive with and affixed to the flexible front wall, the flexible front wall and the flexible rear wall defining an interior for holding a flowable personal care product, and a substrate affixed to the flexible rear wall, the substrate defining a plurality of recesses;

positioning the container such that the substrate is contacting the shower wall and the substrate and the shower wall define pockets filled with air;

applying pressure to the flexible front wall so that the air is released from the pockets to create a partial vacuum in the pockets; and

releasing the pressure, leaving the container adhered to the shower wall via suction.

2. The method of adhering according to claim 1 wherein applying the pressure comprises applying the pressure so that channels are created that temporarily enable the plurality of recesses to communicate with an exterior until the pressure is released.

3. The method of adhering according to claim 1 wherein each recess is a semi-spherical depression having an outer facing concave surface and a rim, the rim having a diameter.

4. The method of adhering according to claim 1 wherein the container comprises a nozzle, and wherein positioning the container comprises positioning the container on the shower wall with the nozzle pointing down.

5. The method of adhering according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of recesses comprise grooves extending substantially vertically from a first end of the container to a second end of the container opposite the first end, and wherein the container comprises a nozzle at the second end, and wherein positioning the container comprises positioning the container on the shower wall with the first end above the second end and the nozzle pointing down.

6. The method of adhering according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of recesses comprise a plurality of groove segments extending substantially vertically, and wherein positioning the container comprises positioning the container on the shower wall with the plurality of groove segments aligned substantially vertically.

7. The method of adhering according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of recesses comprises a V-shape groove having an apex and two legs extending downward from the apex, and wherein positioning the container comprises positioning the container on the shower wall with the apex of the V-shape groove of each of the plurality of recesses above the two legs of the V-shape groove.

8. A method of adhering a container to a shower wall comprising:

providing the container comprising a flexible front wall, a flexible rear wall that is substantially coextensive with and affixed to the flexible front wall, the flexible front wall and the flexible rear wall defining an interior for holding a flowable personal care product, and a substrate affixed to the flexible rear wall and having an outer surface and a substrate thickness, the substrate defining a plane and a plurality of recesses, wherein each of the plurality of recesses is defined by an outer facing concave surface extending inward into the substrate from the outer surface by a distance that is less than the substrate thickness;

positioning the container such that the substrate is contacting the shower wall and the substrate and the shower wall define pockets filled with air;

applying pressure to the flexible front wall so that the air is released from the pockets to create a partial vacuum in the pockets; and

releasing the pressure, leaving the container adhered to the shower wall via suction.

9. The method of adhering according to claim 8 wherein applying the pressure comprises applying the pressure so that channels are created that temporarily enable the plurality of recesses to communicate with an exterior until the pressure is released.

10. The method of adhering according to claim 8 wherein each recess is a semi-spherical depression having a rim, the rim having a diameter.

11. The method of adhering according to claim 8 wherein the container comprises a nozzle, and wherein positioning the container comprises positioning the container on the shower wall with the nozzle pointing down.

12. The method of adhering according to claim 8 wherein the plurality of recesses comprise grooves extending substantially vertically from a first end of the container to a second end of the container opposite the first end, and wherein the container comprises a nozzle at the second end, and wherein positioning the container comprises positioning the container on the shower wall with the first end above the second end and the nozzle pointing down.

13. The method of adhering according to claim 8 wherein the plurality of recesses comprise a plurality of groove segments extending substantially vertically, and wherein positioning the container comprises positioning the container on the shower wall with the plurality of groove segments aligned substantially vertically.

14. The method of adhering according to claim 8 wherein each of the plurality of recesses comprises a V-shape groove having an apex and two legs extending downward from the apex, and wherein positioning the container comprises positioning the container on the shower wall with the apex of the V-shape groove of each of the plurality of recesses above the two legs of the V-shape groove.

15. A method of adhering a container to a shower wall, the container comprising a flexible front wall, a flexible rear wall that is substantially coextensive with and affixed to the flexible front wall, the flexible front wall and the flexible rear wall defining an interior for holding a flowable personal care product, and a substrate affixed to the flexible rear wall, the substrate defining a plurality of recesses, the method of adhering comprising:

positioning the container such that the substrate is contacting the shower wall and the substrate and the shower wall define pockets filled with air;

applying pressure to the flexible front wall so that the air is released from the pockets to create a partial vacuum in the pockets; and

releasing the pressure, leaving the container adhered to the shower wall via suction.

16. The method of adhering according to claim 15 wherein each recess is a semi-spherical depression having an outer facing concave surface and a rim, the rim having a diameter.

17. The method of adhering according to claim 15 wherein the container comprises a nozzle, and wherein positioning the container comprises positioning the container on the shower wall with the nozzle pointing down.

18. The method of adhering according to claim 15 wherein the plurality of recesses comprise grooves extending substantially vertically from a first end of the container to a second end of the container opposite the first end, and wherein the container comprises a nozzle at the second end, and wherein positioning the container comprises positioning the container on the shower wall with the first end above the second end and the nozzle pointing down.

19. The method of adhering according to claim 15 wherein the plurality of recesses comprise a plurality of groove segments extending substantially vertically, and wherein positioning the container comprises positioning the container on the shower wall with the plurality of groove segments aligned substantially vertically.

20. The method of adhering according to claim 15 wherein each of the plurality of recesses comprises a V-shape groove having an apex and two legs extending downward from the apex, and wherein positioning the container comprises positioning the container on the shower wall with the apex of the V-shape groove of each of the plurality of recesses above the two legs of the V-shape groove.