Technical Field

This invention relates to a device which is adapted to hold at least one bottle and/or container upright or inverted.

Background to the Invention

Typically bottles and containers are shaped to rest on horizontal surfaces such as floors, shelves and benches. For example shampoo bottles are often placed on the floor of a shower unit or on a ledge within the shower unit. In such positions bottles may be easily knocked over and the contents spilt. In addition it may be inconvenient and difficult to bend down and reach bottles resting on the floor or low surfaces.

Attempts to overcome these problems, and attempts to provide a means for easily dispensing the contents of such bottles and containers, have been described in New Zealand Patent Specification Nos. 29226, 56572 and 65880.

The inventions described in the above-identified specifications go some way to overcoming the problem of loose and inconveniently placed bottles, as well as providing a means to dispense the contents of the bottles. The problem with these inventions and other

similar devices is that some have containers which require filling, others have a complicated means for holding bottles in place and others are not adapted to be attached to vertical or near vertical surf ces.

Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a device which is adapted to hold at least one bottle and/or container upright or inverted to enable the contents thereof to be easily dispensed, which overcomes at least some of the abovementioned problems, or which at least provides the public with a useful choice.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for holding at least one container comprising a bracket, a means for affixing the bracket to a substantially vertical surface, and at least one container holding means connected to the bracket by a pivot means, and wherein the device when affixed to a substantially vertical surface is adapted to hold the at least one container and allow it to be pivoted between a substantially upright position and an inverted position.

In a preferred form of the invention the container holding means may comprise a collar of substantially resilient material with an opening at one side, the opening being adapted to receive a neck of a container which is then held, in a friction fit, in the collar. Preferably the collar is supported pivotably, via spindles, in the bracket.

In an alternative form of the invention the container holding means comprises a collar without an opening at one side, the opening being adapted to receive a neck of a container which is fitted to the collar after a cap of the container is removed after which the cap is refitted to the container to hold the neck of the container in the collar.

In a preferred form the bracket may comprise a fixing plate and perpendicularly disposed support arms to support the spindles of the container holding means.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for holding at least two containers comprising: - a bracket comprising a fixing plate with at least two pairs of perpendicularly disposed support arms, a means for affixing the bracket to a substantially vertical surface.

at least two container holding means, each container holding means comprising a collar of substantially resilient material and a pivot means, each pivot means being supported in one of the pairs of support arms of the bracket, and wherein the device when affixed to a substantially vertical surface is adapted to hold a container in each container holding means, and allow each container to be pivoted, independently, between a substantially upright position and an inverted position.

In a preferred from of the invention the collar of the container holding means may be of adjustable size.

Preferably the device of the present invention is adapted to hold containers in the form of bottles. Pivoting of a bottle or container held in the container holding means rotates it from a substantially upright position to a position where the bottle or container is inverted. This allows the contents of the bottle or container to be easily dispensed.

Further aspects of this invention, which should be considered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

Brief description of Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the device to hold a bottle and/or container according to one aspect of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the device shown in Figures 1 & 2, in use;

Figure 4 shows a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the device of the present invention;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a device of the present invention;

Figure 6 shows a side view of the embodiment of Figure 5;

Figure 7 shows a view from the front of the embodiment of Figure 5 with a container held in the container holding means;

Figure 8 shows a view from above of the embodiment of Figure 5; and

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention

incorporating two container holding means.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

The device of this invention which holds a bottle and/or container is generally referred to as 1. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the bracket 2 comprises a fixing plate 3 and two outwardly projecting support arms 4, 5. A container holding means 6 which includes a curved collar 7 has a spindle 8 protruding from each side, substantially adjacent the edges 11, 12 of an opening 13 of the collar 7. The spindles 8 pivotally engage with the support arms 4, 5 of the bracket 2.

The support arms 4, 5 of the bracket 2 have apertures 9, 10. into which the spindles 8 of the container holding means 6 engage, allowing free rotation of the container holding means 6 in the support arms 4, 5.

The curved collar 7 comprises a curved central region defining a cavity into which a neck of a bottle or container may be fitted. The curved collar 7 is preferably made from a resilient material so that when the neck of a bottle or container is engaged with the curved collar 7 a tight grip on the neck of the bottle or container is effected.

In order to provide a means of guiding the neck of the bottle or container into the curved collar 7, the edges 11, 12 may be in the form of outwardly

projecting jaws (see figure 2) which define the opening 13.

In an alternative embodiment of the device of the present invention, as shown in Figures 5 to 9 , the container holding means 6 includes an adjustment means. The features of this adjustment means are best seen in Figure 8. The spindle 14 freely rotates in its support arm 15. The other spindle 16 is threaded and supports a locking nut 19. The aperture 17 in support arm 18 may be threaded but in the example is not. Thus, pressure can be applied to the curved collar 7 by rotating the locking nut 19 to bear against the adjacent support arm of the container holding means 6 so that the diameter of the collar 7 is reduced. Locking of this locking nut 19 against the inner surface 20 of the support arm 18 ensures that the required pressure is maintained on curved collar 7 to retain a firm friction fit of the collar 7 around the neck of a selected bottle or container. The thread of the spindle 16 is positioned so that rotation of the bottle between its substantially upright position and its inverted position has no substantial effect on the pressure applied to the curved collar 7.

The adjustment means of these embodiments of the invention enable adjustment of the container holding means to receive and hold the neck of most

commercially produced bottles and containers, which are generally in the range 24 to 34 mm.

Referring to Figures 3 and 9, when the device of this invention is in use, a bottle or container is push-fitted into the curved collar 7. The opening 13 of the collar 7 may face either forwards or backwards when the container is in its upright position. The bottle or container may then be inverted by moving the bottle or container in the direction marked A in Figure 3. This assists a user in dispensing the contents of the bottle or container. The embodiment of the invention, shown in

Figure 9 has one container 22 in a substantially upright position and the second container 21 in an inverted position.

Figures 4 and 9 present embodiments of the present invention which include more than one container holding means 6 on a single bracket 2.

The bracket of the invention is preferably made of a plastics material or metal, although other suitable materials are also envisaged. The fixing plate 3 of the bracket may include double-sided tape on its rear side for affixing the bracket to a support surface. Alternatively, other conventional fixing means may be used, for example screws.

The container holding means is made from a

resilient material, preferably a plastics material.

Both the bracket and the container holding means may be formed by injection moulding.

The device may be used as often as is required by replacing the bottles and/or containers.

Thus by this invention there is provided a device for holding a bottle and/or container upright or inverted to assist in dispensing their contents.

Although the invention has been described by way of example, and with reference to particular embodiments, it should be appreciated that modifications and variations may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims. For example, it is envisaged that alternative forms or shapes of container holding means may be employed which are adapted to hold bottles or containers of different design or size.

Industrial Applicability

The device of the present invention is simple to use and install, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture. It is envisaged that it will be most conveniently manufactured in plastics material, possibly by injection moulding or extrusion. The device has extensive application for the support

and dispensing of containers holding liquid or semi- liquid materials. An example of a particular application for the device is as a holder for shampoo and liquid soap containers in bathrooms.