[0001] This invention relates to a container, in particular a bottle or the like suitable
for holding perfume, facial lotion, cosmetic lotion, or other similar fluid. The invention
is more specifically directed to a novel combination of a container of globular or
generally spherical shape, and a stopper therefor which also serves as the base on
which the container rests.
[0002] Heretofore, a bottle for dispensing perfume has usually comprised a bottle and a
stopper therefor, the stepper fitting a neck at the top of the bottle. Although such
a bottle can have a decorative appearance, it necessarily and unescapably has the
appearance of a bottle. Thus, known bottle must rely on their ornate- ness of design
to decorate a surface on which they rest. For example, a cosmetic bottle for a ladies'
dressing table is often given a fancy stopper or an elaborate bottle design in an
attempt to lend attractiveness to the dressing table's appearance.
[0003] It is an object of this invention to provide a container suitable for use as a perfume
bottle which provides a novel and surprising decorative appearance without detracting
from its basic function of containing perfume or other fluid, and which also permits
simple dispensing of the perfume or other fluid.
[0004] It is another object of this invention to provide a bottle which is elegantly simple
in its structure and appearance..
[0005] Accordingly, many desirable embodiments of this invention are constituted by the
combination of a spheroid container and a mating stopper. The preferred spheroid container,
which can be a sphere, an ovoid or egg shaped container, an elongated ellipsoidal
container or a "squashed" spheroidal container, is formed of blown glass and has a
spheroid outer wall and a spheroid inner wall of similar shape. The container has
a round opening therein at the position forming the bottom of the container in its
normal or resting orientation. The mating stopper has a stem fitting the opening and
a flat surface forming a base on which the container assembly rests after the stopper
is placed in the opening. In several preferred embodiments, the stopper includes a
disc member integrally or unitarily formed with the stem, with the stem extending
axially from the disc member.
[0006] When the container of this invention is used as a bottle for perfume, a cosmetic
liquid, or another similar fluid, the invention can comprise, in combination, the
container formed as a spheroid of transparent material, the stopper/base member, and
a fill of the perfume or other fluid, preferably a substantially transparent fluid.
If the stem and the opening in the container have mating ground-glass surfaces, a
good, reliable seal will be formed, and the perfume can be reliably stored without
leakage with the container in its normal, stopper-downward resting orientation. In
that orientation, the bottle, filled with perfume or similar liquid, gives a unique,
attractive appearance, and adds beauty to a ladies' dressing table or other place
where it might be situated.
[0007] When it is desired to use the perfume or other fluid stored in the bottle, the bottle
can be simply lifted and inverted, and the stopper removed. Then, the stopper, which
will be wet from having been immersed in the fluid, can be used to dab the perfume
or other fluid directly onto the face or neck, or onto the finger to apply the perfume
or other fluid. Thereafter, the stopper can be returned to the bottle and the bottle
inverted and replaced on the dressing table. The weight of the bottle is sufficient
to ensure that there is a good seal, and that there is no leakage past the ground-glass
surfaces of the stopper and opening.
[0008] Of course, the invention is not limited to spheroidal bottles and containers. It
is within the scope of this invention for the container to be of any arbitrary shape,
so long as the stopper serves as a base or pedestal therefor and the container normally
reposes with the stopper downwards. Also, the container need not be strictly transparent.
[0009] The above and many other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will
be more fully understood from the ensuing description, which should be considered
in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view of a perfume bottle according to a preferred
embodiment of this invention;
Fig. 2 is an exploded view showing the bottle (inverted) and the stopper therefor;
Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of this embodiment; and
Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof.
[0010] With reference to the drawings, including all of Figs. 1-4, a perfume bottle assembly
according to this invention includes a bottle 10 of generally spherical shape having
a spherical outer surface 12 and a generally spherical inner surface 14, the latter
defining an inner spherical chamber 16, here shown about three-quarters filled with
a liquid, such as perfume 18. A round opening 20 is disposed at the bottom of the
bottle 10, if the latter is considered in its normal, resting orientation as shown
in Fig. 1. As shown in the exploded view in Fig. 2, this opening 20 has a frusto-conical
surface. Preferably, the bottle 10 is blown glass, and the frusto-conical surface
of the opening 20 is ground so that it forms a good seal with a stopper 22 now to
be described.
[0011] The stopper 22, as shown in Fig. 1, forms a base for the perfume bottle assembly,
on which the spheroid bottle 10 rests. The stopper 22 is preferably formed of glass,
of the same type as used in the perfume bottle 10. The stopper 22 has a frusto-conical
stem 24 with a ground-glass surface, as shown in Fig. 2, which mates with the corresponding
surface of the opening 20. The stopper also includes a glass disc 26 formed integrally
or unitarily with the stem 24 and orientated such that the stem 24 extends axially
from one side of the disc 26. A flat surface of the disc 26 opposite the stem 24 forms
the base on which the assembly rests. The spheroid bottle 10 thus has this position
as its unique, stable position.
[0012] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a section of the perfume bottle 10 surrounding the opening
20 is formed as a flat or planar surface 28. However, this surface 28 is an optional
feature.
[0013] Normally, the bottle 10, filled with the perfume or other fluid 18, rests in the
stopper-downward position as shown in Fig. 1. To apply the perfume, the bottle is
picked up and inverted to the orientation shown in Fig. 2. Thereafter, the stopper
22 is twisted slightly and is removed from the opening 20. The perfume or other fluid
can then be applied directly from the end of the stem 24 of the stopper 22, and the
stopper 22 replaced in the opening 20.
[0014] The sealing of the bottle is obtained with glass- to-glass mating of bottle with
stoppers which can be interchangeable with one another..For opening and closing the
bottle, all that is needed is aslight twist of the stopper without pressing or knocking.
[0015] Although a specific embodiment is offered as an example, it will be understood that
the bottle assembly of this invention can be any container which is transparent and
generally spherical, possibly of an ovoid or flattened shape, or even of an onion
shape, and which opens from the bottom. In other words, with this invention, the closure
forms the base of the round bottle. If the bottle is used as a perfume bottle, the
closure can be a ground-glass stopper and to apply the perfume, a user would merely
pick up the bottle and invert it (so that the stopper is up) and remove the stopper.
The stopper will have a drop or two of the perfume on it and the user can touch this
and apply the perfume with her (or his) finger to the body where desired.
[0016] The design of this invention eliminates the need to shake the bottle to wet the stopper.
Also, since the bottle rests on the stopper, it is impossible to leave the closure
slightly ajar, as the bottle weight itself closes it. Thus, any problem about evaporation
of the perfume or other fluid is minimized. Moreover, the ground glass seal is kept
wet because it is at the bottom, and there is a better seal than would otherwise be
provided.
[0017] Although the invention has been described hereinabove with reference to a single
preferred embodiment, it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art
that many modifications and variations thereof could manifest themselves without departure
from the scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.
1. A container assembly comprising a hollow container (12) having an opening (20)
therein and a stopper (22) having a stem (24) fitting the opening (20) and a flat
outer surface, characterised in that the flat surface forms a base (26) on which the
container assembly (10) rests when the stopper (22) is in place in the opening (20),
the stopper (22) thus forming a pedestal support for the container (12) in a normal,
stopper-down position.
2. A container assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the container
(12) is a spheroidal, transparent container.
3. A container assembly as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the spheroid
container (12) has a flattened surface (28) surrounding the opening (20) but a round
surface extending elsewhere around the container (12).
4. A container assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the
stopper (22) has a ground-glass stem (24) which mates with a ground-glass surface
of the opening (20).
5. A container assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the
normal, stopper-down position is a unique stable position of the container assembly
(10).
6. A container assembly as defined in any preceding claim, characterised by a fill
of a generally transparent liquid (18) within an inner chamber (14) of the container
(12).