Container and blow mold assembly

Abstract

A container for storing, transporting and dispensing fluids has a spout in the top proximate the front portion, a hollow handle open to the spout and the top of the container body proximate the rear portion and a handling indentation for manipulating the container to dispense liquid from the spout. Improved facilities for dispensing liquid comprise a channel dividing the handling indentation into segments whereby liquid flows through the channel from the rear of the container past the segments to the front of the container when the container is rotated to dispense liquid therefrom. A mold assembly comprises mating mold components comprising molding surfaces for producing a container in accordance with the invention.

1 . A container for transporting, storing and dispensing liquids, the container comprising a body having front and rear portions, a spout in the top of the container proximate the front portion for dispensing fluids therefrom, a handling indentation in the container base for facilitating manipulation of the container to dispense fluids from the spout, and a channel in the container base continuous from the front portion to the rear portion and dividing the handling indentation into segments, liquid flowing through the channel from the rear of the container past the segments to the front of the container when the container is rotated to dispense liquid from the spout.  
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the bottom of the channel is recessed from surrounding surfaces of the container base.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2  further comprising a hollow handle open to the spout and to the top of the container body proximate the rear portion and a groove traversing the top portion of the container between the spout and the connection of the handle with the top of the container body.  
   
   
       4 . The container according to  claim 2  further comprising at least three resting pads protruding from the container base and spaced apart from one another to define a plane, at least one resting pad located within the portion of the container base proximate the front portion of the container and at least one resting pad located within the portion of the container base below the rear portion of the container, the resting pads supporting the container when the container is stored upright.  
   
   
       5 . A mold assembly for blow molding a container in accordance with  claim 1 , the mold assembly comprising first and second mating mold components, each mating mold component comprising molding surfaces open to a mating face of the mold component and defining the exterior of an article to be molded, the molding surfaces comprising first molding surfaces defining the container body, second molding surfaces defining the neck portion of the spout, and third molding surfaces defining the container base comprising a handling indentation for facilitating manipulation of the container to dispense fluids from the spout and a channel continuous from the front portion to the rear portion and dividing the handling indentation into segments, fluid flowing through the channel from the rear past the segments to the front when the container is rotated to dispense fluid from the spout.  
   
   
       6 . The mold assembly according to  claim 5  wherein the bottom of the channel is recessed from the surrounding surfaces of the container base.  
   
   
       7 . The mold assembly according to  claim 6  wherein the first molding surfaces further define a hollow handle open to the base of the spout and to the top of the container body proximate the rear portion and a groove traversing the top of the container between the spout and the connection of the handle to the top of the container body.  
   
   
       8 . The mold assembly according to  claim 6  wherein the third molding surfaces define at least three resting pads protruding from the container base and spaced apart from one another to define a plane, at least one resting pad located within the portion of the container base proximate the front portion of the container and at least one resting pad located within the portion of the container base below the rear portion of the container, the resting pads supporting the container when the container is stored upright.