DISPENSING CONTAINER

Abstract

The present invention provides a dispensing container comprising a vessel, the vessel having: a formation and/or discrete element in or on the vessel which causes the centre of gravity of contents of the vessel to be positioned differently, when oriented in a lain-on-side attitude, from its notional position, in the absence of the formation or element in or on the vessel; an additional formation or discrete element in or on the vessel which, when the container is in the lain-on-side attitude, lifts at least a portion of the container away from a surface, wherein, when the container is in the lain-on-side attitude and has a first volume of content, the centre of gravity of the content biases the container to a first orientation, and when the container is in the lain-on-side attitude and has a second volume of content, the centre of gravity of the container biases the container to a second orientation, different to the first.

Claims

1. A dispensing container comprising a vessel, the vessel having: a formation and/or discrete element in or on the vessel which causes the center of gravity of liquid contents of the vessel to be positioned differently, when oriented in a lain-onside attitude, from its notional position, in the absence of the formation or element; an additional formation or discrete element in or on the vessel which, when the container is in the lain-on-side attitude, lifts at least a portion of the container away from a surface, wherein, when the container is in the lain-on-side attitude and contains a first volume of content, the center of gravity of the content biases the container to a first orientation, and when the container is in the lain-on-side attitude and has a second volume of content, the center of gravity of the container biases the container to a second orientation, different to the first.

2. A dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein the additional formation or element in or on the vessel which, when the container is in the lain-on-side-attitude, lifts the container away from a surface comprises at least one tire, or band, arranged circumferentially around the vessel.

3. A dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein the additional formation or element in or on the vessel which, when the container is in the lain-on-side-attitude, lifts the container away from a surface comprises at least one integral circumferential protuberance.

4. A dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein the formation or element in or on the vessel which, when the container is in the lain-on-side-attitude, lifts the container away from a surface comprises a 3D printed, or embossed, label.

5. A dispensing container according to claim 2, wherein the at least one tire, or band, comprises two tires, or bands.

6. A dispensing container according to claim 5, wherein one tire or band is positioned adjacent a base wall of the vessel and the other tire, or band, is positioned adjacent a neck portion of the vessel.

7. A dispensing container according to claim 5, wherein each tire, or band, is positioned within a circumferential groove in a side wall of the vessel.

8. A dispensing container according to claim 5, wherein each tire, or band, is affixed to a sidewall of the vessel by adhesive.

9. A dispensing container according to claim 5, wherein each tire, or band, is manufactured from rubber, silicone, plastic, metal, or any other suitable material.

10. A dispensing container according to claim 5, wherein each tire, or band, has a width of approximately 1 mm and a depth of approximately 1 mm.

11. A dispensing container according to claim 2, wherein the at least one integral circumferential protuberance comprises two integral circumferential protuberances.

12. A dispensing container according to claim 11, wherein each integral circumferential protuberance defines a substantially uniform curved surface.

13. A dispensing container according to claim 11, wherein each integral circumferential protuberance has a width of approximately 1 mm and a depth of approximately 1 mm.

14. A dispensing container according to claim 11, wherein one integral circumferential protuberance is positioned adjacent a base wall of the vessel and wherein the other integral circumferential protuberance is positioned adjacent a neck portion of the vessel.

15. A dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein the additional formation or discrete element in or on the vessel comprises an outwardly facing projection.

16. A dispensing container according to claim 15, wherein the outwardly facing projection comprises a pin.

17. A dispending container according to claim 15, wherein the outwardly facing projection has a length of less than two millimeter and a width of less than 1 millimeter.

18. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Certain embodiments will now be described with reference to the following drawings:

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a roll-stable container with an external groove positioned beneath the level of liquid therein;

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the roll stable container of FIG. 1 with the groove positioned above the level of liquid therein;

[0016] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the roll stable container of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the groove effectively floating on the surface of the liquid therein;

[0017] FIG. 4a shows a side view of a first roll stable container in accordance with the invention;

[0018] FIG. 4b shows a detail view of part of the first roll stable container of FIG. 4a;

[0019] FIG. 5a shows a side view of a second roll stable container in accordance with the invention;

[0020] FIG. 5b shows a detail view of part of the second roll stable container of FIG. 5a;

[0021] FIG. 6a shows a side view of a third roll stable container in accordance with the invention;

[0022] FIG. 6b shows a detail view of part of the third roll stable container of 6a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

[0023] The certain embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the brief description of the drawings.

[0024] Referring to the figures, the dispenser 10 thereshown comprises a vessel 12 with a valve 14 crimped on at a neck 16 in the vessel. The valve has a dispensing stem 18. The vessel is circularly cylindrical and formed with a groove 20 within its circular cylindrical envelope, extending parallel with the length of the vessel giving it an inflected cylindrical sidewall. The arrangement is such that when the container is in an attitude of being lain on its sidewall 24, in which the groove 20 is, if the groove 20 is initially beneath the surface of the liquid 26 in the container, as shown in FIG. 1, the container 10 will roll, changing its orientation, until the groove 20 is at the surface of the liquid 26, as shown in FIG. 3, with the groove 20 in effect floating on the surface of the liquid 26. If the groove 20 is initially above the liquid 26, as shown in FIG. 2, since it biases the centre of gravity of the vessel 12 and the container 10 towards itself, being of constant wall thickness or having a bias weight in or on the vessel, the container 10 will roll again until the groove 20 is floating on the surface of the liquid 26, as shown in FIG. 3. Thus the extent of fullness of the container 10 can be determined by where the groove 20 comes to rest.

[0025] As shown in the figures, the groove 20 may extend only partially along the length of the vessel 12. The groove 20 may be oriented centrally in the longitudinal dimension of the vessel 12 or offset. In other embodiments the groove 20 may extend along the entire longitudinal dimension of the vessel from a base 22 to the neck 16.

[0026] When the liquid level is low, the groove 20 extending from end to end of the vessel 12 provides a particularly accurate indication of content, since liquid 26 cannot flow behind it.

[0027] To assist the container 10 in being able to roll, a substantially circumferential formation 28 is provided at least at one end of the vessel 12 to lift the sidewall 24 of the vessel 12 away from a surface. FIGS. 4a and 4b show a roll-stable pressurised liquid dispenser 10 which has a tyre 30, or band, positioned around the vessel 12 at each end thereof. The tyre 30, or band, has a width of approximately 1 mm and a depth of approximately 1 mm. The tyre 30, or band, lifts the sidewall 24 of the vessel away from a surface by a distance of approximately 1 mm. The tyre 30, or band, can be made from rubber, silicone, plastic, metal, or any other suitable material. The tyre 30, or band, has a smooth surface so as to reduce friction between the tyre 30, or band, and a surface. The formation 28 may extend around the entire circumference of the vessel 12 or only partially around the circumference of the vessel 12.

[0028] The tyre 30, or band, can be adhered to the vessel 12 or can utilise the elastic properties of the tyre 30, or band, to hold the tyre 30, or band, in the desired position. In some embodiments of the invention, the tyre 30, or band, can be positioned within a circumferential groove 32 in the sidewall 24 of the vessel 12, as shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b.

[0029] In certain embodiments the formation 28 may be part of a label which is embossed or printed, for example to provide a raised area.

[0030] FIGS. 6a and 6b show a dispenser 10 which has an integral circumferential protuberance 34 formed in the sidewall 24 of the vessel 12. The protuberance defines a substantially uniformly curved surface which protrudes approximately 1 mm from the sidewall 24 of the vessel 12.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 4b, 5b and 6b, the formation 28 is provided with a projection 36 which projects outwardly from the formation 28 to introduce an element of instability to the container. The projection 36 prevents the container 10 from settling at a dead centre orientation. In one embodiment the projection is a pin which has a length of between 1 mm and 10 mm and a width of between 0.5 mm and 3 mm. The pin is made from the same material as the circumferential protuberance, tyre or 3D printed label and is integral therewith. However, the skilled person will appreciate that in other embodiments the projection may be a separate component from the circumferential protuberance 34, tyre 30 or 3D printed label and maybe formed from a different material. The projection, in some embodiments, may also be a protuberance, spike or bump, for example.