US3544226A - Brush bottle - Google Patents

Description

DeC- 1, 1970 L. T. KELLls 3,544,226

BRUSH BOTTLE Filed Jan. 25, 1968 rraiA/YJ United States PatentOr 3,544,226 BRUSH BOTTLE Louis T. Kellis, 540 OFarrell St., San Francisco, Calif. 94102 Filed Jan. 25, 1968, Ser. No. 700,475 Int. Cl. A46b 11/00 U.S. Cl. 401-28 1 Claim ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A combination brush and bottle particularly adapted for utilization with materials such as hair shampoo which may be contained within the bottle and employed with the brush. A single unit comprising a bottle formed with a neck comprising a handle and a side comprising a brush, and preferably formed of light-weight, inexpensive plastic is provided hereby. Additionally, the invention provides for dispensing of the bottle contents while the invention is being employed as a brush through simple linger movement of a plate covered aperture,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is relatively well known to provide containers in combination with means for utilizing materials carried thereby, In particular, it is noted there have been developed certain shampoo dispensing units having bristles, or the like, thereon, such as, for example, that disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,130,442. The present invention provides an advancement in this particular lield. Particularly in the sales promotion of preparations such as hair shampoo, there has been developed an intense rivalry in which packaging and give-away articles are often of paramount importance in the sales competition. A wide variety of ingenious packages, or containers, has been developed to catch the eye of the prospective purchaser for the promotion of sales. While the majority of these packages are primarily ornamental, it is also possible to incorporate some utility therein which may be related or unrelated to the merchandise packaged. The present invention provides not only an ornamental package, or container, for a particular kind of sales item, but, furthermore, incorporates a highly practical utility for facilitating the use of the material packaged.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION In brief, the present invention comprises a hollow container adapted to be sealed as by a removable closure and having at least one at side from which there extend bristles. The container is formed with an elongated neck comprising a handle for ready gripping during use of the invention; additionally, the container has a at bottom end opposite the handle portion upon which it is designed to rest.

The bristle portion of the bottle may be integrally formed therewith, or, alternatively, may be aixed thereto as a separate unit, either in fixed or movable relation to the remainder of the unit. The invention is adapted to be formed of an inexpensive light-weight plastic; thus it may be desirable under certain circumstances to form the bristles of a different material such as an alternative plastic having requisite properties for use as a brush. In the instance wherein a separate bristle element is employed, it may be permanently bonded in a variety of known ways to the remainder of the unit or may be mounted to slide in a track under control of the thumb of one holding the unit, so as to controllably uncover an opening in the flat side of the bottle for dispensing of the liquid contained therein.

3,544,226 Patented Dec. 1, 1970 lee DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. l and 2 of the drawing, there will be seen to be illustrated a combined bottle and brush 11 in accordance with the present invention. This unit 11 includes a hollow, elongated container 12 having a flat bottom surface 13 and an upwardly extending neck, or handle, 14. At the top of the handle 14, there may be provided a cap 16 as a removable closure for the container 12. Not only does the unit 11 have a ilat undersurface 13, but, also, it has one llat side 17, with the remaining sides being preferably curved outwardly from the top handle, or neck, portion to maximize the capacity of the container. It is, however, to be noted that the flat undersurface 13 is to be generally centrally located with regard to the center of gravity of the lled container, inasmuch as the unit 11 is adapted to rest upon the undersurface without undue danger or tipping or falling over because of unbalance.

This container 12 is adapted to contain a liquid sales item, such as, for example, hair shampoo, or the like, which is adapted to be used with a brush, or which may, at least, be advantageously employed with a brush. Naturally, other materials can be carried by the unit, but such materials should be lowable so as to be readily dispensed from the unit, either through the top end of the handle upon removal of the closure member 16, or otherwise as described below.

In addition to the container portion of the invention, there is also provided a bristle portion 18 disposed upon the at side 17 of the container 12 in extension generally perpendicular therefrom below the handle and above the bottom surface 13. This bristle portion 18 may be formed integrally with the container portion 12, if desired, or, alternatively, may be formed as a separate unit, as a sheet having bristles extending perpendicularly therefrom and secured to the flat side of the container.

The unit as described above is adapted to be filled with a tiowable material such as a liquid hair shampoo, or the like, for display and sale. Naturally, appropriate identitication and sales promotion literature may be either aiixed to the unit 11 or embossed thereon. The container 12 of the unit may be formed of transparent, translucent or opaque material, preferably light-weight, inexpensive plastic. It is to be noted that the handle, or neck, portion 14 extends suiciently from the lower, enlarged portion of the container to aord a convenient gripping area, so that a user may grasp the unit by the neck or handle portion. In use, the brush bottle of the present invention is employed by grasping it about the handle, normally with the thumb on the flat surface 17, and employing it as a brush. Assuming the contents of the bottle to be a liquid hair shampoo, some small portion thereof would be applied to the hair, after wetting of the hair, and the unit then grasped by the user and bristles of the unit employed to shampoo the hair, as by vigorous brushing thereof.

The present invention is also adaptable to control dispensing of the contents thereof during shampooing, or the like. In the circumstance wherein the bristle portion 18'is formed as a separate unit, it may, as noted above, be movably aixed to the container portion 12. This is illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5 of the drawing, wherein it will be seen that the bristles portion 18 is formed as a backing sheet 21, with the bristles extending from one side thereof. Container 12 `has an opening 22 formed in the at side 17 thereof With this bristle portion'in extension thereover. The sheet 12 of the bristle portion is sealed to the' container portion, as, for example, by fitting into notched slides and abutting an end boss on the container portion, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. An upward extension, or plate 23, extending from the sheet 21 lies along the flat side of the handle 14, so that one grasping this handle would normally place the thumb on this plate 23. A curved outer portion of the plate 23 is formed to delne a thumb rest, so `that one may readily move the bristle portion 1-8 longitudinally of the container 12 by thumb movement. The sheet 21 of the bristle portion will be seen to be mounted on the container for ready movement in sliding engagement with the notched slides on the container engaging the sheet of the bristle unit. Thus, by raising the bristle unit slightly from the position illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, there will be uncovered a portion of the opening 22 in the container, so as to allow flowable material within the container to ow out of this uncovered portion of the opening. Y

It will thus be seen that during use of the brush bottle, it is possible for one to relatively easily dispense material contained therein merely by thumb `movement while grasping the handle 14. In order to insure normal closure of the container, there may be provided a detent in the form of a small, rounded boss 26 on the flat portion of the handle immediately above the bristle-unit plate 23 and engaging the upper edge thereof. Thus, in storage and shipping of the unit, the bristle portion will normally remain in closing relationship to the opening in the container portion. During use, when it is desired to controllably dispense material from the brush bottle, an upward pressure on the plate 23 will cause the upper edge thereof to ride over this rounded boss 26, and a small depression may be provided in the undersurface of the plate 23 adjacent the top, so that the bristle unit snaps into a lim-` ited open position. Alternatively, the plate 23 may be made sufciently exible so that it merely bends in riding up on the rounded boss. The user at all times has control over the dispensing of material from the brush bottle, inasmuch as the thumb is always pressing against the plate 23, and only a slight forward or backward pressure is required to controllably dispense the material.

It will thus be seen that the invention is not only adapted to contain material and, at the same time, to

facilitate its use, but, also, is adapted to the controlled dispensing of such material during use. There is actually combined herein a multiplicity of functions in a single unit which provides material advantages. A container of pleasing appearance is herein provided, together with a highly practical unit for using the material carried by the brush bottle. Naturally, theV physical configuration of the present invention may be varied somewhat within the limitations set forth above. It is, however, intended to emphasize that the brush bottle described above incorporates the function of a container and a brush, together with the capability of .controlled dispensing of the material carried by the container during the use of the unit as a brush. This combination of functions in a very simple device provides a material advancement commending the invention to widespread use.

That which is claimed is:

1. A brush bottle comprising a hollow container having a at end upon which the container is adapted to rest as a base, a narrow elongated neck adapted for use as a handle and hat side extending substantially from said base up said neck, a small boss on the flat side of said neck and said container having an opening through the at side of the container and parallel spaced slides formed longitudinally of said flat surface on opposite sides of said opening and a bristle element including a large plurality of flexible-bristles extending from one side of a flat plate with said plate disposed between said slides for sliding closure and uncovering of said container opening, said plate having a narrow extension lying along the flat side of said handle with a contoured outer surface defining a thumb rest, and said extension extending to said small boss in normal position of said bristle plate closing said opening in the container for preventing inadvertent uncovering of said opening.

References Cited HARLAND S. SKOGQUIS'F, Primary Examiner Us. Ac1. X.R. 222-471, 561; m1- 137, 28o

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