Last Drop Catch Containers

Abstract

Last drop catch containers for collecting remaining product for product packaging are provided. In one embodiment, a catch container for collecting last drops of a bottle is provided, the catch container comprising: a body that attaches to a lid, wherein the body comprises an inner cavity; and the lid, when attached to the body allows access to the inner cavity of the body, wherein the lid comprises an adapter for receiving a bottle in an upside down vertical configuration and wherein the adapter allows liquid to flow from the bottle to the inner cavity of the body using gravity.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The current application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 461,696, filed on Apr. 25, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to containers and more specifically to containers configured to catch remaining product from consumer product packaging.BACKGROUND

[0003] Liquid products such as, but not limited to, consumer liquid products (e.g., lotions, shampoos, conditioners, sauces, etc.) may be stored in product packing. Typically, product packaging for liquid products may include bottles or bottle-like containers. For example, a bottle may be a rigid container having a body, neck, and a mouth. Generally, the neck may be narrower than the body of the bottle. The mouth may an opening that allows the liquid product to exit from within the bottle. Bottles can be made from a variety of materials such as, but not limited to, plastic, glass, clay, aluminum or other impervious materials.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The various embodiments of the present last drop catch containers have several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the present embodiments as expressed by the claims that follow, their more prominent features now will be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description,” one will understand how the features of the present embodiments provide the advantages described herein.

[0005] In a first aspect, a catch container for collecting last drops of a bottle is provided, the catch container comprising: a body that attaches to a lid, wherein the body comprises an inner cavity; and the lid, when attached to the body allows access to the inner cavity of the body, wherein the lid comprises an adapter for receiving a bottle in an upside down vertical configuration and wherein the adapter allows liquid to flow from the bottle to the inner cavity of the body using gravity

[0006] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the adapter comprises a first opening.

[0007] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the adapter further comprises a second opening.

[0008] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the first opening has a first diameter and the second opening has a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.

[0009] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the second opening is located opposite to the first opening.

[0010] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the second opening extends into the inner cavity of the body when the lid is attached.

[0011] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the first opening and the second opening are connected by a first curved vertical surface.

[0012] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the first opening and the second opening are further connected by a transition curved surface.

[0013] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the first opening and the second opening are further connected by a second curved vertical surface.

[0014] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the transition curved surface connects the first curved vertical surface and the second curved vertical surface.

[0015] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the transition curved surface is offset by a transition angle.

[0016] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the transition angle is greater than 90 degrees.

[0017] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the transition angle is less than 180 degrees.

[0018] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the second curved vertical surface extends into the inner cavity of the body when the lid is attached.

[0019] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the lid and the base are circular in shape.

[0020] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the first and second openings are circular in shape.

[0021] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the body further comprises a circular base.

[0022] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the circular base has a base diameter.

[0023] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the base diameter is larger than the first diameter of the first opening.

[0024] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the lid and the base are square in shape.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The various embodiments of the present last drop catch containers (may also be referred to herein as “catch containers”) have several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the present embodiments as expressed by the claims that follow, their more prominent features now will be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description,” one will understand how the features of the present embodiments provide the advantages described herein.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a side view of a catch container with a bottle attached in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

[0027] FIG. 2A is a side view of a catch container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

[0028] FIG. 2B is a top view of a catch container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

[0029] FIG. 3A is a front perspective view of a lid of a catch container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

[0030] FIG. 3B is a top view of a lid of a catch container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

[0031] FIG. 3C is a bottom view of a lid of a catch container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

[0032] FIG. 4A is a side view of a catch container with a lid separated from a body in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

[0033] FIG. 4B is a side view of a catch container with a lid attached to a body in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

[0034] FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of the catch container of FIG. 4B along line A-A in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

[0035] FIG. 4D is a perspective view of a catch container with a lid attached to a body in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

[0036] FIG. 4E is a perspective view of a catch container with a storage lid attached to the container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The following detailed description describes the present embodiments with reference to the drawings. The various embodiments of the present last drop catch containers (may also be referred to here as “catch containers”) contain several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the present embodiments, their more prominent features will now be discussed below. In particular, the present catch containers will be discussed in the context of catching liquid product (e.g., lotion) from product packaging (e.g., a bottle). However, the use of particular products and product packaging are merely exemplary and various other products including, but not limited to, any liquid product (e.g., shampoos, conditioners, sauces, etc.) and product packaging such as, but not limited to various shaped containers, as appropriate to the requirements of a specific application, may be utilized with and in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. After considering this discussion, one will understand how the features of the present embodiments provide the advantages described here.

[0038] One aspect of the present embodiments includes the realization that in current product packaging containing a liquid product, there is an amount of product remaining (may be referred to herein as the “last drop”) in the product packaging after the consumer (may also be referred to as the “user”) thinks he or she has retrieved the entirety of the product from the product packaging. For example, various household products such as, but not limited to, lotions and shampoos typically have 2-3 ounces of product remaining in the product packaging after the user thinks he or she is done with the product. For example, product packaging may be a container having a pump that accesses the product within the product container. Typically, the pump is only able to access the product when there is a non-zero threshold amount of product left in the product container. Thus, there will always be product remaining in the product packaging beyond what the pump can access. In addition, product may be “stuck” on the interior walls of the product packaging and / or the viscous nature of the product may prevent it from flowing out of the product packaging without a threshold amount of time that the product packaging must be inverted (due to the force of gravity on the product). The present embodiments solve these problems by utilizing a catch container that receives and holds product packaging in an upside down vertical configuration while collecting the last drops of the product from the product packaging, as further described below. The present embodiments thus advantageously enable users to collect and use more of the products (i.e., the last drops) thereby gaining the use of additional product that would normally have been discarded. The present embodiments provide these advantages and enhancements, as further described below.

[0039] Turning now to the drawings, last drop catch containers in accordance with embodiments of the invention are provided. In many embodiments, catch containers may include a body comprising an inner cavity and a body opening configured to receive and attach to a lid. In various embodiments, the lid may be configured to allow access to the inner cavity of the body without having to remove the lid from the body. For example, the lid may include a lid opening having an adapter configured to receive an open product packaging (e.g., an open bottle) in an upside down vertical configuration. In several embodiments, the adapter may include a first opening and an opposite second opening. In some embodiments, the first opening may have a first diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of a neck of the bottle. In some embodiments, the second opening may have a second diameter that is less than the outer diameter of the neck of the bottle. In some embodiments, the first diameter may be greater than the second diameter. Further, the first opening to the second opening may be connected by a first curved surface that may be vertical (may also be referred to as a “first curved vertical surface”), a transition curved surface, and a second curved surface that may be vertical (may also be referred to as a “second curved vertical surface”). In some embodiments, the first and second curved vertical surfaces may be connected by the transition curved surface. In some embodiments, the transition curved surface may be offset by a transition angle that defines the angle of the transition from the first curved vertical surface to the second curved vertical surface, as further described below.

[0040] In various embodiments, the lid and the adapter may be a singular unit. In many embodiments, the first opening of the adapter may allow for receiving the bottle in an upside down vertical configuration and gravity may assist the last drops of product to exit the bottle and flow through the second opening of the adapter into the inner cavity of the body. Last drop catch containers configured to receive product packaging in accordance with embodiments of the invention are further discussed below.Last Drop Catch Containers Configured to Receive Product Packaging

[0041] Liquid consumer products (e.g., lotions, shampoos, conditioners, etc.) may come in consumer product packaging (e.g., bottles, various shaped containers, etc.). Typically, such product packaging may be in form of bottles that may have a base, sidewalls, a shoulder, neck, and a mouth (may also be referred to as the “bottle opening”). The bottle may take on various shapes including various shapes of the shoulder (e.g., rounded, angular, sloping, etc.), base, sidewalls, etc. Further, bottles may also have no shoulder and the neck and body may be the same size thereby being a singular piece. However, many bottles will generally have a bottle opening and a neck portion.

[0042] A side view of a catch container with a bottle attached in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 1. The catch container 100 may include a body 102 and a lid 104, as further described below. In some embodiments, the body 102 may be various shapes including, but not limited to, circular or square. The body 102 may have a base, sidewalls, and a body opening configured to receive and attach to a lid 104. In addition, the body 102 may include an inner cavity for collecting last drops of an attached bottle 110. In usage, the body's inner cavity may be significantly smaller than the bottle 100 as the body's inner cavity is configured to collect the last drops of the bottle 100.

[0043] In reference to FIG. 1, the lid 104 may include an adapter 106 configured to receive an open bottle 110 in an upside down vertical configuration. In many embodiments, the adapter 106 of the lid 104 may allow for a portion of the, or the entire, neck of the bottle 110 to rest within the adapter 106. By receiving and holding the neck within the adapter 106, the bottle 110 may be held in the upside down vertical configuration allowing the product within the bottle to flow and exit out of the open bottle 110. In various embodiments, the adapter 106 may have a first opening for receiving the bottle and a second opening, opposite the first opening, that allows the product to flow into the inner cavity of the body, as further described below. The amount of time required for the last drops to exit the bottle may depend on the viscosity of the liquid product. As the catch container 100 may hold the open bottle 110 in an upside down vertical configuration for an indefinite amount of time, the catch container 100 may be utilized to collect the last drops.

[0044] A side view of a catch container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 2A. In some embodiments, the body 202 of the catch container 200 may be square and may be configured to receive and attach to a lid 204 that may also be shaped to match the body 202 (i.e., square shaped). In some embodiments, the body 202 and lid 204 may be attached using various mechanisms for attaching two parts together. For example, the lid 204 may be slightly larger in size than the body 202 thereby allowing the lid 204 to rest on the body 202. The lid 204 may include a flap or lip 206 that slides down the sidewalls 208 of the body 202 thereby allowing the lid 204 to stay in place attached to the body 202. In some embodiments, the body 202 may include a body opening that is located on the top surface of the body 202 and the lid 204 may cover the body opening.

[0045] In reference to FIG. 2A, the lid 204 may include an adapter 210 configured to receive an open bottle as further described herein. In many embodiments, the lid 204 may include a lid opening that that the adapter 210 may access. For example, the adapter 210 may be slotted into the lid opening and the adapter 210 may have a hollow body with a first opening 212 positioned higher compared to an opposite second opening, as further described below.

[0046] A top view of a catch container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 2B. As described above, the adapter 210 may a first opening 212 and an opposite second opening 214. In many embodiments, the first opening 212 may have a first diameter and the second opening 214 may have a second diameter, where the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. In addition, the first diameter may be greater than an outer diameter of a neck of a bottle. In some embodiments, the first diameter may be less than a diameter of a shoulder of the bottle. Further, in some embodiments, the second diameter may be less than the outer diameter of the neck of the bottle. In some embodiments, the second diameter may be equal to or less than an inner diameter of the neck of the bottle. In further reference to FIG. 2B, the adapter 210 may also include rounded sidewalls 216 configured to receive and hold the neck of the bottle. In addition, the adapter 210 may also include an inner rim 218 that may be configured to make contact with a rim of a mouth of the bottle.

[0047] In reference to FIGS. 2A-B, catch containers may be constructed utilizing a variety of materials such as, but not limited to, food grade silicone or plastic. In many embodiments, catch containers may be dishwasher safe, refrigerator safe, microwave safe, and oven safe. In various embodiments, catch containers may be eco-friendly, BPA free, easy to clean, and leak proof. In several embodiments, catch containers may be airtight, flexible and durable, odorless and non-staining.

[0048] Although specific catch containers for collecting last drops of bottles are discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1-2B, any of a variety of catch containers including a variety of bodies, lids, adapters, materials, and features as appropriate to the requirements of a specific application can be utilized in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Lids of catch containers in accordance with embodiments of the invention are discussed further below.Lids of Catch Containers

[0049] As described above, catch containers for collecting last drops may include a body and an attached lid, where the lid is configured to allow access to an inner cavity of the body without having to be removed from the body. In many embodiments, lids may include an adapter that receives and holds an open bottle in an upside down vertical configuration allowing product within the bottle to exit the bottle and into the body via the adapter.

[0050] A front perspective view of a lid of a catch container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 3A. The lid 302 may include an adapter 304, as further described below. A top view of a lid of a catch container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 3B. A bottom view of a lid of a catch container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 3C. In many embodiments, the lid 302 of a catch container may be constructed with adapter 304 within the lid opening 306. For example, a hole (i.e., the lid opening) 306 may be drilled on a standard lid to accommodate an adapter 302. In some embodiments, the adapter 304 may include a male adaptor (e.g., a PVC male adaptor) having a threaded end. For example, the male adapter may be a ¾ and / or a 1-inch Schedule 40 PVC male adaptor MPT x socket threaded on one side. In such embodiments, the threaded end may be inserted into the hole 306 confirming a snug fit. In some embodiments, one or more securing mechanisms 308 (e.g., 2 locknuts) may be screwed to secure the male adapter to the lid 302 in order to cut any excess of the male adapter without damaging the threads. For example, the locknut may be a ¾ and / or 1-inch r205 locknut. In some embodiments, a grinder may be used to cut the excess. Once, the excess is removed, the 2 locknuts may be removed and a plastic bushing may be screwed on the top side of the lid 302. For example, the plastic bushing may be a ¾ and / or 1-inch R360 RGD plastic brushing. In many embodiments, a portion of the male adapter may protrude out of the bottom of the lid (e.g., approximately ½ inch of male adapter) leaving at least a half inch from the top of the body and keeping liquid product from overflowing.

[0051] In many embodiments, the lid 302 may be constructed using various materials including, but not limited to, plastic lids or silicon lids. In various embodiments, the lids may be various shapes including, but not limited to, square lids and round lids. In some embodiments, using round lids (and containers) may allow for easier access to get product out of catch container. In some embodiments, the body may be of various sizes including, but not limited to, a 95 ml / 3.2 oz capacity body. Although specific production methods and specific materials used in production of lids and / or catch containers are discussed herein, production (and materials used for production) may be performed in a variety of ways including, but not limited to, 3D printing, or any other method of production known to one of skill in the art.

[0052] Although specific lids for catch containers are discussed above with respect to FIGS. 3A-C, any of a variety of lids for catch containers as appropriate to the requirements of a specific application can be utilized in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Further, one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that certain parts of the invention may be replaced, modified, or removed while maintaining the advantages and / or features of the embodiments. For example, the adapter may be removed and / or replaced with just an opening and the lid may still be configured to hold a bottle in the upside down vertical configuration. In addition, the lid and the adapter may be a singular unit, as further described below. The present embodiments contemplate and include such changes that would be known to one of skill in the art. Schematic diagrams of catch containers in accordance with embodiments of the invention are further described below.Schematic Diagrams of Catch Containers

[0053] As described herein, catch container will assist consumers save money by allowing a consumer to access the remaining product when the consumer gets to the point where they can no longer pump or reach product out of the bottle. The consumer may remove the pump or lid of the bottle, optionally pump any remaining product out of the pump tube, turn the bottle upside down, and place the bottle upside down onto the adapter of the catch container. With the assistance of gravity, the remaining product will flow into the catch container for the consumer to use at a later time.

[0054] A side view of a catch container with a lid and a body separated in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 4A. A side view of a catch container with a lid attached to a body in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 4B. The catch container 400 may include a body 402 and a lid 404 that may include an adapter 406. In various embodiments, the lid 404 and the adapter 406 may be a singular unit. As described herein, the adapter 406 may receive a consumer product packaging (e.g., a bottle) that is uncapped and in an upside down vertical configuration. The remaining product may then flow into the body 402 via the adapter 406. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the lid 404 may be separated and detached from the body 402 to access the product that flows into the catch container 400. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the lid 404 may be attached to the body 402.

[0055] A cross-sectional view of the catch container of FIG. 4B along line A-A in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 4C. The body 402 of the catch container 400 may include an inner cavity 410 and a body opening configured to receive and attach to the lid 404. When the lid 404 and the body 402 are attached, the lid 404 allows access to the inner cavity 410 of the body 402. For example, the lid 404 may include an adapter 406 configured to receive an open product packaging (e.g., an open bottle) in an upside down vertical configuration. In addition, the adapter 406 may include a first opening 416 and a second opening 418. The first opening 416 may allow for receiving the bottle in an upside down vertical configuration and gravity may assist the last drops of product to exit the bottle and flow through the second opening 418 into the inner cavity 410 of the body. In some embodiments, the first opening 416 and the second opening 418 may be positioned opposite each other. In some embodiments, the second opening 418 may extend into the inner cavity 410 when the lid 404 is attached to the body 402.

[0056] In reference to FIG. 4C, the first opening 416 may have a first diameter 417 and the second opening 418 may have a second diameter 419, where the first diameter 417 is greater than the second diameter 419. Further, the first opening 416 to the second opening 418 may be connected by a first curved vertical surface 424, a transition curved surface 420, and a second curved vertical surface 426. For example, the first and second curved vertical surfaces 424, 426 may be shaped as curved surfaces of cylinders without the faces of the cylinders. In some embodiments, the first and second curved vertical surfaces 424, 426 may be connected by the transition curved surface 420. In some embodiments, the transition curved surface 420 may be offset by a transition angle 422 that defines the angle of the transition from the first curved vertical surface 424 to the second curved vertical surface 426. In some embodiments, the transition angle 422 may be greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees. In some embodiments, the second curved vertical surface 426 may extend into the inner cavity 410 of the body 402.

[0057] In further reference to FIG. 4C, the first diameter 417 may be greater than an outer diameter of a neck of the bottle, thereby allowing the neck of the bottle to insert into the adapter 406 via the first opening 416. In some embodiments, the second diameter 219 may less than the outer diameter of the neck of the bottle and the neck of the bottle may be in contact with the transition curved surface 420 when fully inserted. However, in other embodiments, the second diameter 219 may be greater than the outer diameter of a neck of the bottle. In such embodiments, the neck of the bottle may insert into the adapter 406 until a shoulder of the bottle is stopped at the first opening 416 or the neck of the bottle accesses the inner cavity 410 and is stopped at a bottom 428 of the body 402.

[0058] In further reference to FIG. 4C, the body 402 may also include a base 412. In some embodiments, the base 412 may be a bottom surface of the body 402. In some embodiments, the base 412 may be smaller in size than the bottom surface of the body 402. In some embodiments, the base 412 may be a circular having a base diameter 411. In some embodiments, the base diameter 411 may be larger than the first diameter 417 of the first opening 416. By having a base diameter 411 that is larger than the first diameter 417, the catch container 400 may be more stable when a bottle is received by the interface 404.

[0059] Catch containers may also be utilized for storage once the last drops of product are received from the product packaging. A perspective view of a catch container with a lid attached to a body in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 4D. As described above, the catch container may be ready to receive last drops when the lid 404 is attached to the body 402. A perspective view of a catch container with a storage lid attached to the container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 4E. Once the catch container has received the last drops, the lid 404 may be replaced with a storage lid 403. The storage lid 403 does not have any openings. When the storage lid 403 is attached to the body 402, the body 402 may be sealed off from external air, moisture, etc., thereby storing and / or preserving the last drops within the body 402.

[0060] Although specific catch containers are discussed above with respect to FIGS. 4A-E, any of a variety of catch containers as appropriate to the requirements of a specific application can be utilized in accordance with embodiments of the invention. While the above description contains many specific embodiments of the invention, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an example of one embodiment thereof. It is therefore to be understood that the present invention may be practiced otherwise than specifically described, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Thus, embodiments of the present invention should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0037]The following detailed description describes the present embodiments with reference to the drawings. The various embodiments of the present last drop catch containers (may also be referred to here as “catch containers”) contain several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the present embodiments, their more prominent features will now be discussed below. In particular, the present catch containers will be discussed in the context of catching liquid product (e.g., lotion) from product packaging (e.g., a bottle). However, the use of particular products and product packaging are merely exemplary and various other products including, but not limited to, any liquid product (e.g., shampoos, conditioners, sauces, etc.) and product packaging such as, but not limited to various shaped containers, as appropriate to the requirements of a specific application, may be utilized with and in accordance with variou...

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The current application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 461,696, filed on Apr. 25, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to containers and more specifically to containers configured to catch remaining product from consumer product packaging.BACKGROUND

[0003] Liquid products such as, but not limited to, consumer liquid products (e.g., lotions, shampoos, conditioners, sauces, etc.) may be stored in product packing. Typically, product packaging for liquid products may include bottles or bottle-like containers. For example, a bottle may be a rigid container having a body, neck, and a mouth. Generally, the neck may be narrower than the body of the bottle. The mouth may an opening that allows the liquid product to exit from within the bottle. Bottles can be made from a variety of materials such as, but not limited to, plastic, glass, clay, aluminum or other impervious materials.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The various embodiments of the present last drop catch containers have several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the present embodiments as expressed by the claims that follow, their more prominent features now will be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description,” one will understand how the features of the present embodiments provide the advantages described herein.

[0005] In a first aspect, a catch container for collecting last drops of a bottle is provided, the catch container comprising: a body that attaches to a lid, wherein the body comprises an inner cavity; and the lid, when attached to the body allows access to the inner cavity of the body, wherein the lid comprises an adapter for receiving a bottle in an upside down vertical configuration and wherein the adapter allows liquid to flow from the bottle to the inner cavity of the body using gravity

[0006] In an embodiment of the first aspect, the adapter comprises a first opening.

[0007] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the adapter further comprises a second opening.

[0008] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the first opening has a first diameter and the second opening has a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.

[0009] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the second opening is located opposite to the first opening.

[0010] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the second opening extends into the inner cavity of the body when the lid is attached.

[0011] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the first opening and the second opening are connected by a first curved vertical surface.

[0012] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the first opening and the second opening are further connected by a transition curved surface.

[0013] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the first opening and the second opening are further connected by a second curved vertical surface.

[0014] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the transition curved surface connects the first curved vertical surface and the second curved vertical surface.

[0015] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the transition curved surface is offset by a transition angle.

[0016] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the transition angle is greater than 90 degrees.

[0017] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the transition angle is less than 180 degrees.

[0018] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the second curved vertical surface extends into the inner cavity of the body when the lid is attached.

[0019] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the lid and the base are circular in shape.

[0020] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the first and second openings are circular in shape.

[0021] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the body further comprises a circular base.

[0022] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the circular base has a base diameter.

[0023] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the base diameter is larger than the first diameter of the first opening.

[0024] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the lid and the base are square in shape.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The various embodiments of the present last drop catch containers (may also be referred to herein as “catch containers”) have several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the present embodiments as expressed by the claims that follow, their more prominent features now will be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description,” one will understand how the features of the present embodiments provide the advantages described herein.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a side view of a catch container with a bottle attached in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

[0027] FIG. 2A is a side view of a catch container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

[0028] FIG. 2B is a top view of a catch container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

[0029] FIG. 3A is a front perspective view of a lid of a catch container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

[0030] FIG. 3B is a top view of a lid of a catch container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

[0031] FIG. 3C is a bottom view of a lid of a catch container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

[0032] FIG. 4A is a side view of a catch container with a lid separated from a body in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

[0033] FIG. 4B is a side view of a catch container with a lid attached to a body in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

[0034] FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of the catch container of FIG. 4B along line A-A in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

[0035] FIG. 4D is a perspective view of a catch container with a lid attached to a body in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

[0036] FIG. 4E is a perspective view of a catch container with a storage lid attached to the container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The following detailed description describes the present embodiments with reference to the drawings. The various embodiments of the present last drop catch containers (may also be referred to here as “catch containers”) contain several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the present embodiments, their more prominent features will now be discussed below. In particular, the present catch containers will be discussed in the context of catching liquid product (e.g., lotion) from product packaging (e.g., a bottle). However, the use of particular products and product packaging are merely exemplary and various other products including, but not limited to, any liquid product (e.g., shampoos, conditioners, sauces, etc.) and product packaging such as, but not limited to various shaped containers, as appropriate to the requirements of a specific application, may be utilized with and in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. After considering this discussion, one will understand how the features of the present embodiments provide the advantages described here.

[0038] One aspect of the present embodiments includes the realization that in current product packaging containing a liquid product, there is an amount of product remaining (may be referred to herein as the “last drop”) in the product packaging after the consumer (may also be referred to as the “user”) thinks he or she has retrieved the entirety of the product from the product packaging. For example, various household products such as, but not limited to, lotions and shampoos typically have 2-3 ounces of product remaining in the product packaging after the user thinks he or she is done with the product. For example, product packaging may be a container having a pump that accesses the product within the product container. Typically, the pump is only able to access the product when there is a non-zero threshold amount of product left in the product container. Thus, there will always be product remaining in the product packaging beyond what the pump can access. In addition, product may be “stuck” on the interior walls of the product packaging and / or the viscous nature of the product may prevent it from flowing out of the product packaging without a threshold amount of time that the product packaging must be inverted (due to the force of gravity on the product). The present embodiments solve these problems by utilizing a catch container that receives and holds product packaging in an upside down vertical configuration while collecting the last drops of the product from the product packaging, as further described below. The present embodiments thus advantageously enable users to collect and use more of the products (i.e., the last drops) thereby gaining the use of additional product that would normally have been discarded. The present embodiments provide these advantages and enhancements, as further described below.

[0039] Turning now to the drawings, last drop catch containers in accordance with embodiments of the invention are provided. In many embodiments, catch containers may include a body comprising an inner cavity and a body opening configured to receive and attach to a lid. In various embodiments, the lid may be configured to allow access to the inner cavity of the body without having to remove the lid from the body. For example, the lid may include a lid opening having an adapter configured to receive an open product packaging (e.g., an open bottle) in an upside down vertical configuration. In several embodiments, the adapter may include a first opening and an opposite second opening. In some embodiments, the first opening may have a first diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of a neck of the bottle. In some embodiments, the second opening may have a second diameter that is less than the outer diameter of the neck of the bottle. In some embodiments, the first diameter may be greater than the second diameter. Further, the first opening to the second opening may be connected by a first curved surface that may be vertical (may also be referred to as a “first curved vertical surface”), a transition curved surface, and a second curved surface that may be vertical (may also be referred to as a “second curved vertical surface”). In some embodiments, the first and second curved vertical surfaces may be connected by the transition curved surface. In some embodiments, the transition curved surface may be offset by a transition angle that defines the angle of the transition from the first curved vertical surface to the second curved vertical surface, as further described below.

[0040] In various embodiments, the lid and the adapter may be a singular unit. In many embodiments, the first opening of the adapter may allow for receiving the bottle in an upside down vertical configuration and gravity may assist the last drops of product to exit the bottle and flow through the second opening of the adapter into the inner cavity of the body. Last drop catch containers configured to receive product packaging in accordance with embodiments of the invention are further discussed below.Last Drop Catch Containers Configured to Receive Product Packaging

[0041] Liquid consumer products (e.g., lotions, shampoos, conditioners, etc.) may come in consumer product packaging (e.g., bottles, various shaped containers, etc.). Typically, such product packaging may be in form of bottles that may have a base, sidewalls, a shoulder, neck, and a mouth (may also be referred to as the “bottle opening”). The bottle may take on various shapes including various shapes of the shoulder (e.g., rounded, angular, sloping, etc.), base, sidewalls, etc. Further, bottles may also have no shoulder and the neck and body may be the same size thereby being a singular piece. However, many bottles will generally have a bottle opening and a neck portion.

[0042] A side view of a catch container with a bottle attached in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 1. The catch container 100 may include a body 102 and a lid 104, as further described below. In some embodiments, the body 102 may be various shapes including, but not limited to, circular or square. The body 102 may have a base, sidewalls, and a body opening configured to receive and attach to a lid 104. In addition, the body 102 may include an inner cavity for collecting last drops of an attached bottle 110. In usage, the body's inner cavity may be significantly smaller than the bottle 100 as the body's inner cavity is configured to collect the last drops of the bottle 100.

[0043] In reference to FIG. 1, the lid 104 may include an adapter 106 configured to receive an open bottle 110 in an upside down vertical configuration. In many embodiments, the adapter 106 of the lid 104 may allow for a portion of the, or the entire, neck of the bottle 110 to rest within the adapter 106. By receiving and holding the neck within the adapter 106, the bottle 110 may be held in the upside down vertical configuration allowing the product within the bottle to flow and exit out of the open bottle 110. In various embodiments, the adapter 106 may have a first opening for receiving the bottle and a second opening, opposite the first opening, that allows the product to flow into the inner cavity of the body, as further described below. The amount of time required for the last drops to exit the bottle may depend on the viscosity of the liquid product. As the catch container 100 may hold the open bottle 110 in an upside down vertical configuration for an indefinite amount of time, the catch container 100 may be utilized to collect the last drops.

[0044] A side view of a catch container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 2A. In some embodiments, the body 202 of the catch container 200 may be square and may be configured to receive and attach to a lid 204 that may also be shaped to match the body 202 (i.e., square shaped). In some embodiments, the body 202 and lid 204 may be attached using various mechanisms for attaching two parts together. For example, the lid 204 may be slightly larger in size than the body 202 thereby allowing the lid 204 to rest on the body 202. The lid 204 may include a flap or lip 206 that slides down the sidewalls 208 of the body 202 thereby allowing the lid 204 to stay in place attached to the body 202. In some embodiments, the body 202 may include a body opening that is located on the top surface of the body 202 and the lid 204 may cover the body opening.

[0045] In reference to FIG. 2A, the lid 204 may include an adapter 210 configured to receive an open bottle as further described herein. In many embodiments, the lid 204 may include a lid opening that that the adapter 210 may access. For example, the adapter 210 may be slotted into the lid opening and the adapter 210 may have a hollow body with a first opening 212 positioned higher compared to an opposite second opening, as further described below.

[0046] A top view of a catch container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 2B. As described above, the adapter 210 may a first opening 212 and an opposite second opening 214. In many embodiments, the first opening 212 may have a first diameter and the second opening 214 may have a second diameter, where the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. In addition, the first diameter may be greater than an outer diameter of a neck of a bottle. In some embodiments, the first diameter may be less than a diameter of a shoulder of the bottle. Further, in some embodiments, the second diameter may be less than the outer diameter of the neck of the bottle. In some embodiments, the second diameter may be equal to or less than an inner diameter of the neck of the bottle. In further reference to FIG. 2B, the adapter 210 may also include rounded sidewalls 216 configured to receive and hold the neck of the bottle. In addition, the adapter 210 may also include an inner rim 218 that may be configured to make contact with a rim of a mouth of the bottle.

[0047] In reference to FIGS. 2A-B, catch containers may be constructed utilizing a variety of materials such as, but not limited to, food grade silicone or plastic. In many embodiments, catch containers may be dishwasher safe, refrigerator safe, microwave safe, and oven safe. In various embodiments, catch containers may be eco-friendly, BPA free, easy to clean, and leak proof. In several embodiments, catch containers may be airtight, flexible and durable, odorless and non-staining.

[0048] Although specific catch containers for collecting last drops of bottles are discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1-2B, any of a variety of catch containers including a variety of bodies, lids, adapters, materials, and features as appropriate to the requirements of a specific application can be utilized in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Lids of catch containers in accordance with embodiments of the invention are discussed further below.Lids of Catch Containers

[0049] As described above, catch containers for collecting last drops may include a body and an attached lid, where the lid is configured to allow access to an inner cavity of the body without having to be removed from the body. In many embodiments, lids may include an adapter that receives and holds an open bottle in an upside down vertical configuration allowing product within the bottle to exit the bottle and into the body via the adapter.

[0050] A front perspective view of a lid of a catch container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 3A. The lid 302 may include an adapter 304, as further described below. A top view of a lid of a catch container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 3B. A bottom view of a lid of a catch container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 3C. In many embodiments, the lid 302 of a catch container may be constructed with adapter 304 within the lid opening 306. For example, a hole (i.e., the lid opening) 306 may be drilled on a standard lid to accommodate an adapter 302. In some embodiments, the adapter 304 may include a male adaptor (e.g., a PVC male adaptor) having a threaded end. For example, the male adapter may be a ¾ and / or a 1-inch Schedule 40 PVC male adaptor MPT x socket threaded on one side. In such embodiments, the threaded end may be inserted into the hole 306 confirming a snug fit. In some embodiments, one or more securing mechanisms 308 (e.g., 2 locknuts) may be screwed to secure the male adapter to the lid 302 in order to cut any excess of the male adapter without damaging the threads. For example, the locknut may be a ¾ and / or 1-inch r205 locknut. In some embodiments, a grinder may be used to cut the excess. Once, the excess is removed, the 2 locknuts may be removed and a plastic bushing may be screwed on the top side of the lid 302. For example, the plastic bushing may be a ¾ and / or 1-inch R360 RGD plastic brushing. In many embodiments, a portion of the male adapter may protrude out of the bottom of the lid (e.g., approximately ½ inch of male adapter) leaving at least a half inch from the top of the body and keeping liquid product from overflowing.

[0051] In many embodiments, the lid 302 may be constructed using various materials including, but not limited to, plastic lids or silicon lids. In various embodiments, the lids may be various shapes including, but not limited to, square lids and round lids. In some embodiments, using round lids (and containers) may allow for easier access to get product out of catch container. In some embodiments, the body may be of various sizes including, but not limited to, a 95 ml / 3.2 oz capacity body. Although specific production methods and specific materials used in production of lids and / or catch containers are discussed herein, production (and materials used for production) may be performed in a variety of ways including, but not limited to, 3D printing, or any other method of production known to one of skill in the art.

[0052] Although specific lids for catch containers are discussed above with respect to FIGS. 3A-C, any of a variety of lids for catch containers as appropriate to the requirements of a specific application can be utilized in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Further, one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that certain parts of the invention may be replaced, modified, or removed while maintaining the advantages and / or features of the embodiments. For example, the adapter may be removed and / or replaced with just an opening and the lid may still be configured to hold a bottle in the upside down vertical configuration. In addition, the lid and the adapter may be a singular unit, as further described below. The present embodiments contemplate and include such changes that would be known to one of skill in the art. Schematic diagrams of catch containers in accordance with embodiments of the invention are further described below.Schematic Diagrams of Catch Containers

[0053] As described herein, catch container will assist consumers save money by allowing a consumer to access the remaining product when the consumer gets to the point where they can no longer pump or reach product out of the bottle. The consumer may remove the pump or lid of the bottle, optionally pump any remaining product out of the pump tube, turn the bottle upside down, and place the bottle upside down onto the adapter of the catch container. With the assistance of gravity, the remaining product will flow into the catch container for the consumer to use at a later time.

[0054] A side view of a catch container with a lid and a body separated in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 4A. A side view of a catch container with a lid attached to a body in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 4B. The catch container 400 may include a body 402 and a lid 404 that may include an adapter 406. In various embodiments, the lid 404 and the adapter 406 may be a singular unit. As described herein, the adapter 406 may receive a consumer product packaging (e.g., a bottle) that is uncapped and in an upside down vertical configuration. The remaining product may then flow into the body 402 via the adapter 406. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the lid 404 may be separated and detached from the body 402 to access the product that flows into the catch container 400. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the lid 404 may be attached to the body 402.

[0055] A cross-sectional view of the catch container of FIG. 4B along line A-A in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 4C. The body 402 of the catch container 400 may include an inner cavity 410 and a body opening configured to receive and attach to the lid 404. When the lid 404 and the body 402 are attached, the lid 404 allows access to the inner cavity 410 of the body 402. For example, the lid 404 may include an adapter 406 configured to receive an open product packaging (e.g., an open bottle) in an upside down vertical configuration. In addition, the adapter 406 may include a first opening 416 and a second opening 418. The first opening 416 may allow for receiving the bottle in an upside down vertical configuration and gravity may assist the last drops of product to exit the bottle and flow through the second opening 418 into the inner cavity 410 of the body. In some embodiments, the first opening 416 and the second opening 418 may be positioned opposite each other. In some embodiments, the second opening 418 may extend into the inner cavity 410 when the lid 404 is attached to the body 402.

[0056] In reference to FIG. 4C, the first opening 416 may have a first diameter 417 and the second opening 418 may have a second diameter 419, where the first diameter 417 is greater than the second diameter 419. Further, the first opening 416 to the second opening 418 may be connected by a first curved vertical surface 424, a transition curved surface 420, and a second curved vertical surface 426. For example, the first and second curved vertical surfaces 424, 426 may be shaped as curved surfaces of cylinders without the faces of the cylinders. In some embodiments, the first and second curved vertical surfaces 424, 426 may be connected by the transition curved surface 420. In some embodiments, the transition curved surface 420 may be offset by a transition angle 422 that defines the angle of the transition from the first curved vertical surface 424 to the second curved vertical surface 426. In some embodiments, the transition angle 422 may be greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees. In some embodiments, the second curved vertical surface 426 may extend into the inner cavity 410 of the body 402.

[0057] In further reference to FIG. 4C, the first diameter 417 may be greater than an outer diameter of a neck of the bottle, thereby allowing the neck of the bottle to insert into the adapter 406 via the first opening 416. In some embodiments, the second diameter 219 may less than the outer diameter of the neck of the bottle and the neck of the bottle may be in contact with the transition curved surface 420 when fully inserted. However, in other embodiments, the second diameter 219 may be greater than the outer diameter of a neck of the bottle. In such embodiments, the neck of the bottle may insert into the adapter 406 until a shoulder of the bottle is stopped at the first opening 416 or the neck of the bottle accesses the inner cavity 410 and is stopped at a bottom 428 of the body 402.

[0058] In further reference to FIG. 4C, the body 402 may also include a base 412. In some embodiments, the base 412 may be a bottom surface of the body 402. In some embodiments, the base 412 may be smaller in size than the bottom surface of the body 402. In some embodiments, the base 412 may be a circular having a base diameter 411. In some embodiments, the base diameter 411 may be larger than the first diameter 417 of the first opening 416. By having a base diameter 411 that is larger than the first diameter 417, the catch container 400 may be more stable when a bottle is received by the interface 404.

[0059] Catch containers may also be utilized for storage once the last drops of product are received from the product packaging. A perspective view of a catch container with a lid attached to a body in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 4D. As described above, the catch container may be ready to receive last drops when the lid 404 is attached to the body 402. A perspective view of a catch container with a storage lid attached to the container in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention is shown in FIG. 4E. Once the catch container has received the last drops, the lid 404 may be replaced with a storage lid 403. The storage lid 403 does not have any openings. When the storage lid 403 is attached to the body 402, the body 402 may be sealed off from external air, moisture, etc., thereby storing and / or preserving the last drops within the body 402.

[0060] Although specific catch containers are discussed above with respect to FIGS. 4A-E, any of a variety of catch containers as appropriate to the requirements of a specific application can be utilized in accordance with embodiments of the invention. While the above description contains many specific embodiments of the invention, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an example of one embodiment thereof. It is therefore to be understood that the present invention may be practiced otherwise than specifically described, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Thus, embodiments of the present invention should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0037]The following detailed description describes the present embodiments with reference to the drawings. The various embodiments of the present last drop catch containers (may also be referred to here as “catch containers”) contain several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the present embodiments, their more prominent features will now be discussed below. In particular, the present catch containers will be discussed in the context of catching liquid product (e.g., lotion) from product packaging (e.g., a bottle). However, the use of particular products and product packaging are merely exemplary and various other products including, but not limited to, any liquid product (e.g., shampoos, conditioners, sauces, etc.) and product packaging such as, but not limited to various shaped containers, as appropriate to the requirements of a specific application, may be utilized with and in accordance with variou...

Claims

1. A catch container for collecting last drops of a bottle, the catch container comprising:a body that attaches to a lid, wherein the body comprises an inner cavity; andthe lid, when attached to the body allows access to the inner cavity of the body, wherein the lid comprises an adapter for receiving a bottle in an upside down vertical configuration and wherein the adapter allows liquid to flow from the bottle to the inner cavity of the body using gravity.

2. The catch container of claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises a first opening.

3. The catch container of claim 2, wherein the adapter further comprises a second opening.

4. The catch container of claim 3, wherein the first opening has a first diameter and the second opening has a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.

5. The catch container of claim 3, wherein the second opening is located opposite to the first opening.

6. The catch container of claim 5, wherein the second opening extends into the inner cavity of the body when the lid is attached.

7. The catch container of claim 3, wherein the first opening and the second opening are connected by a first curved vertical surface.

8. The catch container of claim 7, wherein the first opening and the second opening are further connected by a transition curved surface.

9. The catch container of claim 8, wherein the first opening and the second opening are further connected by a second curved vertical surface.

10. The catch container of claim 9, wherein the transition curved surface connects the first curved vertical surface and the second curved vertical surface.

11. The catch container of claim 10, wherein the transition curved surface is offset by a transition angle.

12. The catch container of claim 11, wherein the transition angle is greater than 90 degrees.

13. The catch container of claim 12, wherein the transition angle is less than 180 degrees.

14. The catch container of claim 9, wherein the second curved vertical surface extends into the inner cavity of the body when the lid is attached.

15. The catch container of claim 3, wherein the lid and the base are circular in shape.

16. The catch container of claim 15, wherein the first and second openings are circular in shape.

17. The catch container of claim 16, wherein the body further comprises a circular base.

18. The catch container of claim 17, wherein the circular base has a base diameter.

19. The catch container of claim 18, wherein the base diameter is larger than the first diameter of the first opening.

20. The catch container of claim 3, wherein the lid and the base are square in shape.

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