CONTAINER

Abstract

Described is a container (1) for a liquid product comprising a base wall (2), at least one side wall (3, 4, 5, 6) extending from the base wall (2) along a main direction of extension D of the container, and an end portion (7), comprising a neck (8) for discharging the product, positioned at an end of the container (1) opposite the base wall (2) in the main direction of extension D; the container comprises a gripping system (9) comprising at least one recess (10) in the side wall (3, 4, 5, 6) which extends mainly in the main direction of extension D and has a first and a second edge (11, 12) converging towards the neck (8) and towards the base wall (2); the second edge (12) defines, with a profile (3a) of the side wall (3, 4, 5, 6), a gripping portion (14) of the container (1).

Claims

1. A container for a product preferably liquid, the container comprising: a base wall, at least one side wall extending from the base wall in a direction of extension D of the container, an end portion, comprising a neck for the discharge of the product, positioned at an end of the container opposite the base wall in the main direction of extension D, the base wall, the side walls and the end portion defining a container open at the neck, the container being characterised in that it comprises a gripping system comprising at least one recess in the side walls, the recess extending mainly along the main axis of extension D and having a first and a second edge which are convergent with each other towards the neck and convergent with each other towards the base wall, the second edge defining with a profile of the side wall a gripping portion in the container.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the gripping portion thins from the neck towards the base wall.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the first edge has a curved shape with the concavity facing towards the second edge.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the second edge has a curved shape and has a first section having a concavity facing towards the first edge and a second section, connected to the first section, with a concavity facing in the opposite direction relative to the first edge.

5. The container according to claim 4, wherein the second section of the second edge is closer to the neck of the container with respect to the first section of the second edge.

6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the first and second edges are joined to one another on the side of the neck of the container.

7. The container according to claim 1, wherein the recess has a depth D of between mm 4 and mm 12 according to the volume of the container.

8. The container according to claim 1, wherein the first and second edges each have at least a concave section with their respective concavities facing each other.

9. The container according to claim 8, wherein the maximum distance D1 between the concave section of the first edge and the concave section of the second edge is between 18 mm and 55 mm according to the volume of the container.

10. The container according to claim 1, comprising a first side wall defining an front frontal wall, a second side wall defining a rear frontal wall, at least a third side wall connecting the first and second side walls, the first, second and third side walls extending from the base wall in the main direction of extension D, connected to each other and being closed at the top by the end portion of the container, the recess being formed on the first side wall.

11. The container according to claim 1, wherein the recess is delimited by at least one base, by a first wall and by a second end wall, the first and second end walls starting from the base and facing each other.

12. The container according to claim 11, wherein the first and second walls of the recess extend from the base to the side walls, the first and second walls of the recess being respectively delimited, at the wall by the first and second edges.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] Further features and advantages of this invention are more apparent in the non-limiting description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of a container, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0051] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a container in accordance with at least one aspect of the invention;

[0052] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic front view of a container in accordance with at least one aspect of the invention;

[0053] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic plan view from above of a container in accordance with at least one aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0054] With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes an example of a container according to this invention.

[0055] The container 1 is, for example, designed to contain liquid products, such as, for example, soap for plates, detergent for dishwashers or washing machines, fabric conditioner and the like.

[0056] The container 1 comprises a base wall 2 and a plurality of side walls 3, 4, 5 and 6 which extend from the base wall 2 along a direction of extension D of the container 1.

[0057] More specifically, in the example illustrated, a first side wall 3 defines a front wall, a second side wall 4 defines a rear wall, a third side wall 5, connecting the front wall and the rear wall, defines a first side of the container 1, and a fourth side wall 6, connecting the front wall and the rear wall, defines a second side of the container 1.

[0058] The side walls 3, 4, 5 and 6 are joined to each other and the container 1 comprises an end portion 7, positioned on the opposite side of the base wall 2 relative to the ide walls 3, 4, 5 and 6 in the direction D, for closing the container 1.

[0059] In the embodiment illustrated by way of example, the end portion 7 comprises a neck 8 for the discharge, in use, of the product, and which can be combined, for example, with a cap or a dispensing device not illustrated.

[0060] The base wall 2, the side walls 3, 4, 5 and 6 and the end portion 7 define a shell open at the neck 8.

[0061] In alternative embodiments not illustrated, the container 1 has any shape, for example a parallelepiped or cylindrical.

[0062] As illustrated, the container 1 comprises a gripping system 9 for moving, in use, the container.

[0063] The system 9, as explained in more detail below, allows a generic user, not illustrated, to firmly grip the container 1 for using the product contained inside.

[0064] The system 9 comprises, in the example illustrated, a recess 10 in the side wall 3.

[0065] In a preferred embodiment, the recess 10 has a maximum depth D of between 4 mm and 12 mm according to the volume of the container 1.

[0066] In general, the larger and heavier the full container 1, the deeper will be the recess 10 in such a way that the user is able to better rip the container 1.

[0067] In general, the recess 10 has dimensions proportional to the height, measured preferably according to the main direction D, and to the width of the wall 3 in which it is made in such a way as to always have substantially the same shape or aspect in containers 1 of different dimensions or of a different capacity.

[0068] As schematically illustrated in a dashed line in FIG. 3, the container 1 may also comprise a second recess, for example of the same type as the recess in the wall 3, on the rear wall 4 for further facilitating gripping of the container 1.

[0069] The recess 10 extends mainly along the main direction of extension D and has a first and a second edge 11, 12.

[0070] The first and the second edge 11, 12 are convergent towards the neck 8 of the container 1 and converging towards the base wall 2.

[0071] In practice, the recess 10 substantially has, on the side wall 3, a closed profile.

[0072] Preferably, the edges 11 and 12 of the recess 10 are joined to one another at an end 10a above the recess towards the neck 8.

[0073] In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the first edge 11 has a curved shape with concavity facing towards the second edge 12.

[0074] In alternative embodiments not illustrated, the edge 11 may also have other shapes.

[0075] In one embodiment, the edge 11 is curved and has a concavity facing towards the edge 12.

[0076] The edge 12 has a concave section 12a facing the edge 11; as illustrated, the edge 11 and the edge 12 each have at least one concave section with the respective concavities facing each other.

[0077] The maximum distance D1 between the edge 11 and the edge 12, in particular, in the example illustrated, between the concave section of the edge 11 and the concave section of the edge 12, is preferably between 18 mm and 55 mm according to the volume of the container 1.

[0078] It should be noted that the edge 11 is concave and the edge 12 has a curved shape and has the concave section 12a with the concavity facing towards the edge 11 and a section 12b with the concavity facing the opposite side relative to the first edge 11.

[0079] The section 12b of the edge 12 is closer to the neck 8 of the container 1 with respect to the section 12a of the edge 12.

[0080] The edge 11 and the edge 12, for example the section 12b, are joined to one another at the upper end 10a of the recess 10.

[0081] Advantageously, in this way, once the fingers of the hand of the above-mentioned user are inserted in the recess 10 they can slide outside the recess with greater difficulty relative to the prior art solutions since, if the container moves downwards, it would remain blocked in the converging portion of the recess.

[0082] According to alternative embodiments, the edges 11 and 12 may also not join the upper end of the recess, obtaining, in any case, the same effect.

[0083] The recess 10 is delimited by a base 20 and, in the example illustrated, by a first and a second wall 21, 22 facing each other which extend from the base 20 up to the wall 3.

[0084] In the example illustrated, the walls 21 and 22 are incident to each other at the bottom 20 of the recess 10.

[0085] The walls 21 and 22 are respectively delimited, at the wall 3, by the edges 11 and 12.

[0086] Given the preferred shape of the edges 11 and 12, it should be noted that the recess 10 is delimited by a profile in the form of a leaf on the wall 3.

[0087] The recess 10 can be finished in such a way as to have a rough surface 23 to the touch which improves the grip of the container 1.

[0088] For example, the walls 21, 22, and, if necessary, the base 20 of the recess 10, may be rougher to the touch relative to the other surfaces of the container 1.

[0089] According to a preferred embodiment, the walls 21, 22 of the recess 10, that is to say, the recess itself, can be provided with a plurality of teeth 24, which can be, for example, in the form of a leaf skeleton, to facilitate further the gripping of the container 1.

[0090] Moreover, the majority of the surface of the front wall 3 is free and can be used, for example, for applying a label 13.

[0091] As illustrated, the edge 12 defines, with a profile 3a of the wall 3 a gripping portion 14 of the container 1.

[0092] The gripping portion 14 defines a free space for part of the fingers which, in use, then engage in the recess 10; the thumb of the same hand can then rest on the wall 5 and on the end portion 7, beneath the neck 8.

[0093] In use, the user can insert, partly, the hand in the recess 10 and retain the container 1 at least acting on the wall 22.

[0094] As illustrated in particular in FIG. 2, the gripping portion 14 on the wall 3 thins from the neck 8 towards the base wall 2.

[0095] The curved shape, in particular with a concavity facing the opposite side relative to the recess 10, of the section 12b of the edge 12 determines the shape of the portion 14 which optimises the gripping of the container 1.