Patent US5503274A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5503274A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bottle item
Assignee: Heidi Ho Corp
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Filing: 1994-12-16
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Granted: 1996-04-02
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Expires: 2014-12-16
Abstract
Abstract An item-in-a-bottle generally includes a container having the general appearance of a fully intact soft drink bottle. The container has an inwardly curving lower wall portion which defines a large orifice in the bottom of the container. A deformable item, which may be a toy, having at least one dimension greater than the diameter of the container and is inserted through the large orifice. The bottom of the container is inserted into an opaque base which covers the large orifice in the bottom of the container. The opaque base conceals the large orifice on the bottom of the container from view, thereby providing the appearance of a fully intact soft drink bottle. The process for molding the bottle will preferably be by blow-molding. This provides extra clarity, flexibility and is unbreakable. Many products such as sporting items, candy and flowers can be encased in the bottle.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerri L. Toffler
- 👤 Louis E. Hough
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:26
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H3/00; A63H3/36; A63H3/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
An item-in-a-bottle comprising: a container having a top and a bottom, said container comprising: a transparent, generally cylindrical body having an inwardly curving upper wall portion and a large orifice in the bottom of said container; a neck portion having a diameter less than said cylindrical body, said neck portion continuous with said inwardly curving upper wall portion of said cylindrical body; a base having a cylindrical wall continuous with a bottom wall, said base disposed on said bottom of said Container over said large orifice; and an item disposed within said cylindrical body of said container, said item being deformable and having at least one undeformed dimension larger than the inner diameter of said large orifice.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
An item-in-a-bottle comprising: a container having a top and a bottom, said container comprising: a transparent, generally cylindrical body having an inwardly curving upper wall portion and a large orifice in the bottom of said container; a neck portion having a diameter less than said cylindrical body, said neck portion continuous with said inwardly curving upper wall portion of said cylindrical body; a base having a cylindrical wall continuous with a bottom wall, said base disposed on said bottom of said Container over said large orifice; and an item disposed within said cylindrical body of said container, said item being deformable and having at least one undeformed dimension larger than the inner diameter of said large orifice.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The item-in-a-bottle according to claim 1, further including a cap disposed on said neck portion, said cap being associated with said item.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The item-in-a-bottle according to claim 1, wherein said base is opaque.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The item-in-a-bottle according to claim 1, wherein said container further comprises an inwardly curving lower wall portion defining the large orifice in said bottom of said container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The item-in-a-bottle according to claim 1, wherein said deformable item also has a dimension larger than the inner diameter of said cylindrical body, such that said item is deformed in said cylindrical body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
190 words
An item-in-a-bottle comprising: a container having a top and a bottom, said container comprising: a transparent, generally cylindrical body having an inwardly curving upper wall portion and a inwardly curving lower wall portion, said inwardly curving lower wall portion defining a large orifice in the bottom of said container; a neck portion having a diameter less than said cylindrical body, said neck portion continuous with said inwardly curving upper wall portion of said cylindrical body; an opaque base having a cylindrical wall continuous with a bottom wall, said cylindrical wall having an inner diameter received on the outer diameter of said cylindrical body of said container wall, said base disposed on said bottom of said container over said large orifice; a deformable item having at least one dimension larger than the inner diameter of said orifice and said orifice and said cylindrical body of said container when said deformable item is not deformed, said deformable item disposed within said cylindrical body of said container; an adhesive tape affixed about the circumference of said cylindrical body and said base; a cap received on said neck portion, thereby sealing said small orifice.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
190 words
An item-in-a-bottle comprising: a container having a top and a bottom, said container comprising: a transparent, generally cylindrical body having an inwardly curving upper wall portion and a inwardly curving lower wall portion, said inwardly curving lower wall portion defining a large orifice in the bottom of said container; a neck portion having a diameter less than said cylindrical body, said neck portion continuous with said inwardly curving upper wall portion of said cylindrical body; an opaque base having a cylindrical wall continuous with a bottom wall, said cylindrical wall having an inner diameter received on the outer diameter of said cylindrical body of said container wall, said base disposed on said bottom of said container over said large orifice; a deformable item having at least one dimension larger than the inner diameter of said orifice and said orifice and said cylindrical body of said container when said deformable item is not deformed, said deformable item disposed within said cylindrical body of said container; an adhesive tape affixed about the circumference of said cylindrical body and said base; a cap received on said neck portion, thereby sealing said small orifice.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An item-in-a-bottle as recited in claim 6, wherein said cap is associated with said item.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An item as recited in claim 7, wherein said item-in-a-bottle and said cap both illustrate Olympic-related items.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
195 words
A method for removably packaging an item Comprising the steps of: a) providing a container having: a top and a bottom; a substantially transparent generally cylindrical body having an inwardly curving upper wall portion and an inwardly curving lower wall portion defining a large orifice in said bottom of said container; an upper neck portion having a diameter less than the diameter of said cylindrical body, .said neck portion continuous with said inwardly curving upper wall portion; and a bottom wall continuous with said inwardly curving lower wall portion b) making a circular cut between said inwardly curving wall portion and said bottom wall; c) removing said bottom wall from said container, said inwardly curving wall portion thereby defining a large orifice in the bottom of said container; d) providing a deformable toy; e) inserting said deformable toy through said large orifice in said bottom of said container; f) providing a base having a cylindrical wall continuous with a bottom wall, said cylindrical wall having an inner diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of said cylindrical body of said container; and g) inserting said cylindrical body into said base thereby covering said large orifice.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
195 words
A method for removably packaging an item Comprising the steps of: a) providing a container having: a top and a bottom; a substantially transparent generally cylindrical body having an inwardly curving upper wall portion and an inwardly curving lower wall portion defining a large orifice in said bottom of said container; an upper neck portion having a diameter less than the diameter of said cylindrical body, .said neck portion continuous with said inwardly curving upper wall portion; and a bottom wall continuous with said inwardly curving lower wall portion b) making a circular cut between said inwardly curving wall portion and said bottom wall; c) removing said bottom wall from said container, said inwardly curving wall portion thereby defining a large orifice in the bottom of said container; d) providing a deformable toy; e) inserting said deformable toy through said large orifice in said bottom of said container; f) providing a base having a cylindrical wall continuous with a bottom wall, said cylindrical wall having an inner diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of said cylindrical body of said container; and g) inserting said cylindrical body into said base thereby covering said large orifice.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method according to claim 9, wherein said base is opaque.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 9, wherein said base includes at least one aperture in said bottom wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method according to claim 9, wherein said deformable toy has at least one undeformed dimension larger than the inner diameter of said cylindrical body of said container, said method further comprising the steps of: deforming said deformable toy inwardly while inserting said deformable toy through said large orifice in said bottom of said container; and releasing said deformable toy to allow said deformable toy to bias said cylindrical body radially outwardly.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method according to claim 9, wherein said item is deformable.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
157 words
A method for removably packaging an item including the steps of: providing a container having: a top and a bottom; a substantially transparent generally cylindrical body having an inwardly curving upper wall portion and a large orifice in said bottom of said container; and an upper neck portion having a diameter less than the diameter of said cylindrical body, said neck portion continuous with said inwardly curving upper wall portion; providing an item; inserting said item through said large orifice in said bottom of said container; providing a base having a cylindrical wall continuous with a bottom wall, said cylindrical wall having an inner diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of said cylindrical body of said container; inserting said cylindrical body into said base thereby covering said large orifice; providing an adhesive tape; and affixing said adhesive tape about the circumference of said cylindrical body and said base, thereby securing said base to said cylindrical body.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
157 words
A method for removably packaging an item including the steps of: providing a container having: a top and a bottom; a substantially transparent generally cylindrical body having an inwardly curving upper wall portion and a large orifice in said bottom of said container; and an upper neck portion having a diameter less than the diameter of said cylindrical body, said neck portion continuous with said inwardly curving upper wall portion; providing an item; inserting said item through said large orifice in said bottom of said container; providing a base having a cylindrical wall continuous with a bottom wall, said cylindrical wall having an inner diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of said cylindrical body of said container; inserting said cylindrical body into said base thereby covering said large orifice; providing an adhesive tape; and affixing said adhesive tape about the circumference of said cylindrical body and said base, thereby securing said base to said cylindrical body.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method according to claim 14, wherein said neck portion defines a small orifice in said top of said container, said method further comprising the steps of: providing a cap having an inner surface complementary to said external surface of said neck portion; engaging said cap with said neck portion, thereby sealing said small orifice.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method according to claim 14, wherein said item is deformable.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
136 words
The method for removably packaging an item comprising the steps of: providing a container having: a top and a bottom; a substantially transparent generally cylindrical body having an inwardly curving upper wall portion and a bottom wall continuous with said cylindrical body; and an upper neck portion having a diameter less than the diameter of said cylindrical body, said neck portion continuous with said inwardly curving upper wall portion; making a cut in said container above said bottom wall; removing said bottom wall from said container, said cylindrical body thereby defining a large orifice in the bottom of said container; providing an item; inserting said item through said large orifice in said bottom of said container; providing a base having a cylindrical wall continuous with a bottom wall; and enclosing said large orifice with said base.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
136 words
The method for removably packaging an item comprising the steps of: providing a container having: a top and a bottom; a substantially transparent generally cylindrical body having an inwardly curving upper wall portion and a bottom wall continuous with said cylindrical body; and an upper neck portion having a diameter less than the diameter of said cylindrical body, said neck portion continuous with said inwardly curving upper wall portion; making a cut in said container above said bottom wall; removing said bottom wall from said container, said cylindrical body thereby defining a large orifice in the bottom of said container; providing an item; inserting said item through said large orifice in said bottom of said container; providing a base having a cylindrical wall continuous with a bottom wall; and enclosing said large orifice with said base.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method according to claim 17, wherein said item is deformable and has at least one undeformed dimension larger than the inner diameter of said cylindrical body of said container, said method further comprising the steps of: deforming said deformable item inwardly while inserting said deformable item through said large orifice in said bottom of said container; and releasing said deformable item to allow said deformable item to bias said cylindrical body radially outwardly.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 17, further including the steps of: providing an adhesive tape; and affixing said adhesive tape about the circumference of said cylindrical body and said base, thereby securing said base to said cylindrical body.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method according to claim 17, wherein said container further includes an inwardly curving lower wall portion continuous with said bottom wail, said method further comprising the steps of: making a circular cut between said inwardly curving wall portion and said bottom wall; and removing said bottom wall from said container, said inwardly curving wall portion thereby defining a large orifice in the bottom of said container.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 17, wherein said base is a part formed separately from the container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-04-02 | 1999-10-02 | 2000-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-02 | 2003-10-02 | 2004-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-02 | 2007-10-02 | 2008-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |