Controlled dose dispensing container having a dispensing receptacle for dispensing fluids

• US 5,695,093 A
• Filed: 09/12/1995
• Issued: 12/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas A. Lucius
• Original Assignee: T L Design Service, Inc.
• Inventors: Lucius, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Application Number:
  US08/526,866
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 222/454, 222/456, 222/129, 141/322
• US Class Current: 222/129
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/028 the dosing device being provided with a dip tube and fitted to a container, e.g. to a bottleneck
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/261 for fluent solid material
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/262 for liquid or semi-liquid

Abstract

This invention relates to a container including a plastic bottle having a built in dispensing receptacle inserted into the top of the bottle, and a transfer duct for filling the dispensing receptacle. The transfer duct is separated from the main body of the container by a baffle, and the transfer duct can form a part of the handle of the container. The dispensing receptacle is filled by tipping the container with the transfer duct on the bottom. When the container is turned upright, the excess fluid not contained in the dispensing receptacle will drain back down the transfer duct. To dispense fluid, the closure is removed, container is held by the handle and tipped, and the fluid is poured from the dispensing receptacle, while the baffle prevents additional fluid from being dispensed.

Claims

1. A container for dispensing fluids comprising a bottle having a bottle opening, a dispensing receptacle positioned within the bottle opening, and a fluid transfer system for filling the dispensing receptacle in the bottle with fluid from the bottle, where the fluid transfer system comprises a baffle positioned within the bottle to enable the dispensing receptacle to be filled with fluid from the bottle when the bottle is tipped in a first direction and to prevent fluid from the bottle from entering the receptacle when the bottle is tipped in a second, opposite direction, thereby enabling a controlled dose of the fluid to be dispensed, where the tipping of the bottle, in the absence of a closure, causes fluid in the dispensing receptacle to be dispensed, thereby enabling a controlled dose of the fluid to be dispensed.

2. The container of claim 1 in which the dispensing receptacle is insertable into the bottle opening with a snap fit.

3. The container of claim 1 in which the dispensing receptacle has a flange larger than the bottle opening for positively seating the dispensing receptacle in the bottle opening.

4. The container of claim 1 in which the baffle is integrally molded into the bottle.

5. The container of claim 1 in combination with a concave closure which cooperates with the dispensing receptacle to enable the dispensing receptacle to be filled with fluid from the bottle when the bottle is tipped in a first direction.

6. The container of claim 1 in which the baffle defines a transfer duct which enables the dispensing receptacle to be filled with fluid from the bottle.

7. The container of claim 6 in which the bottle has a handle and in which the transfer duct is in the handle of bottle.

8. The container of claim 7 in which the baffle is integral with the handle of bottle.

9. The container of claim 1 in which the fluid transfer system comprises a baffle positioned within the bottle to define a transfer duct which enables the dispensing receptacle to be filled with fluid from the bottle when the bottle is tipped in a first direction and to prevent fluid from the bottle from entering the receptacle when the bottle is tipped in a second, opposite direction, thereby enabling a controlled dose of the fluid to be dispensed, where the dispensing receptacle is insertable into the bottle opening with a snap fit.

10. The container of claim 9 in which the dispensing receptacle has a flange larger than the bottle opening for positively seating the dispensing receptacle in the bottle opening, and in which the bottle has a handle, where the transfer duct is in handle of bottle.

11. The container of claim 10 in combination with a concave closure which cooperates with the dispensing receptacle to enable the dispensing receptacle to be filled with fluid from the bottle when the bottle is tipped in a first direction.

12. A container assembly system for containers for dispensing fluids comprising a plurality of bottles for dispensing fluids and a plurality of dispensing receptacles each having a predetermined different volume, each container comprising a bottle and a dispensing receptacle, each bottle having a bottle opening, where tipping of the bottle, in the absence of a closure, causes fluid in the dispensing receptacle to be dispensed, thereby enabling a controlled dose of the fluid to be dispensed, the dispensing receptacles being of a predetermined first diameter, the bottle openings being of a predetermined second diameter larger than the first diameter for receiving one of the dispensing receptacles, and the bottles being provided with a fluid transfer system for filling the dispensing receptacles in the bottles with fluid from the bottles, where any one of the plurality of dispensing receptacles of different volumes is insertable into the bottle openings to enable any one of the plurality of dispensing receptacles to be assembled within any one of the plurality of bottles.

13. The container assembly system of claim 12 including a baffle positioned within the bottle to enable the dispensing receptacle to be filled with fluid from the bottle when the bottle is tipped in a first direction and to prevent fluid from the bottle from entering the receptacle when the bottle is tipped in a second, opposite direction, thereby enabling a controlled dose of the fluid to be dispensed, where the baffle is integrally molded into the bottle.

14. The container assembly system of claim 12 including a baffle positioned within the bottle to enable the dispensing receptacle to be filled with fluid from the bottle when the bottle is tipped in a first direction and to prevent fluid from the bottle from entering the receptacle when the bottle is tipped in a second, opposite direction, thereby enabling a controlled dose of the fluid to be dispensed, where the dispensing receptacle is insertable into the bottle opening with a snap fit.

15. The container assembly system of claim 12 including a baffle positioned within the bottle to enable the dispensing receptacle to be filled with fluid from the bottle when the bottle is tipped in a first direction and to prevent fluid from the bottle from entering the receptacle when the bottle is tipped in a second, opposite direction, thereby enabling a controlled dose of the fluid to be dispensed, where the bottle has a handle, and in which the baffle is integral with the handle to define a transfer duct in the handle of bottle, and further including a concave closure which cooperates with the dispensing receptacle to enable the dispensing receptacle to be filled with fluid from the bottle when the bottle is tipped.

16. A container assembly system for containers for dispensing fluids comprising a plurality of bottles for dispensing fluids and a plurality of dispensing receptacles, each container comprising a bottle and a dispensing receptacle, each bottle having a bottle opening, where tipping of the bottle, in the absence of a closure, causes fluid in the dispensing receptacle to be dispensed, thereby enabling a controlled dose of the fluid to be dispensed, each dispensing receptacle having one of several differing predetermined volumes, the dispensing receptacles being of a predetermined first diameter, the bottle openings being of a predetermined second diameter larger than the first diameter for receiving one of the dispensing receptacles, and the bottles being provided with a fluid transfer system for filling the dispensing receptacles in the bottles with fluid from the bottles, where any one of the plurality of dispensing receptacles is insertable into the bottle openings to enable any one of the plurality of dispensing receptacles of different volumes to be assembled within any one of the plurality of bottles.

17. The container assembly system of claim 16 in which the dispensing receptacle is insertable into the bottle opening with a snap fit.

18. The container assembly system of claim 16 including a baffle positioned within the bottle to enable the dispensing receptacle to be filled with fluid from the bottle when the bottle is tipped in a first direction and to prevent fluid from the bottle from entering the receptacle when the bottle is tipped in a second, opposite direction, thereby enabling a controlled dose of the fluid to be dispensed, where the bottle has a handle, and in which the baffle is integral with the handle to define a transfer duct in the handle of bottle, and further including a concave closure which cooperates with the dispensing receptacle to enable the dispensing receptacle to be filled with fluid from the bottle when the bottle is tipped.

19. A container assembly system for containers for dispensing fluids comprising a plurality of bottles for dispensing fluids and a plurality of dispensing receptacles each having a predetermined volume, each container comprising a bottle and a dispensing receptacle, each bottle having a bottle opening, where tipping of the bottle, in the absence of a closure, causes fluid in the dispensing receptacle to be dispensed, thereby enabling a controlled dose of the fluid to be dispensed, the dispensing receptacles being of a predetermined first diameter, the bottle openings being of a predetermined second diameter larger than the first diameter for receiving one of the dispensing receptacles, and the bottles being provided with a fluid transfer system for filling the dispensing receptacles in the bottles with fluid from the bottles, where the fluid transfer system comprises a baffle positioned within the bottle to enable the dispensing receptacle to be filled with fluid from the bottle when the bottle is tipped in a first direction and to prevent fluid from the bottle from entering the receptacle when the bottle is tipped in a second, opposite direction, thereby enabling a controlled dose of the fluid to be dispensed, where any one of the plurality of dispensing receptacles of different volumes is insertable into the bottle openings to enable any one of the plurality of dispensing receptacles to be assembled within any one of the plurality of bottles.

20. The container assembly system of claim 19 in which the dispensing receptacle is insertable into the bottle opening with a snap fit.

21. The container assembly system of claim 19 in which the bottle has a handle, and in which the baffle is integral with the handle to define a transfer duct in the handle of bottle, and further including a concave closure which cooperates with the dispensing receptacle to enable the dispensing receptacle to be filled with fluid from the bottle when the bottle is tipped.

22. The container assembly system of claim 19 in which the baffle is integrally molded into the bottle.

23. The container assembly system of claim 22 in which the dispensing receptacle is insertable into the bottle opening with a snap fit, and in which the bottle has a handle, and in which the baffle is integral with the handle to define a transfer duct in the handle of bottle, and farther including a concave closure which cooperates with the dispensing receptacle to enable the dispensing receptacle to be filled with fluid from the bottle when the bottle is tipped.

24. A container assembly system for containers for dispensing fluids comprising a plurality of bottles for dispensing fluids and a plurality of dispensing receptacles, each container comprising a bottle and a dispensing receptacle, each bottle having a bottle opening, where tipping of the bottle, in the absence of a closure, causes fluid in the dispensing receptacle to be dispensed, thereby enabling a controlled dose of the fluid to be dispensed, each dispensing receptacle having one of several predetermined volumes, the dispensing receptacles being of a predetermined first diameter, the bottle openings being of a predetermined second diameter larger than the first diameter for receiving one of the dispensing receptacles, and the bottles being provided with a fluid transfer system for filling the dispensing receptacles in the bottles with fluid from the bottles, where the fluid transfer system comprises a baffle positioned within the bottle to enable the dispensing receptacle to be filled with fluid from the bottle when the bottle is tipped in a first direction and to prevent fluid from the bottle from entering the receptacle when the bottle is tipped in a second, opposite direction, thereby enabling a controlled dose of the fluid to be dispensed, and where any one of the plurality of dispensing receptacles is insertable into the bottle openings to enable any one of the plurality of dispensing receptacles of different volumes to be assembled within any one of the plurality of bottles.

25. The container assembly system of claim 24 in which the dispensing receptacle is insertable into the bottle opening with a snap fit.

26. The container assembly system of claim 24 in which the bottle has a handle, and in which the baffle is integral with the handle to define a transfer duct in the handle of bottle, and further including a concave closure which cooperates with the dispensing receptacle to enable the dispensing receptacle to be filled with fluid from the bottle when the bottle is tipped.