Liquid container with multiple openings

Abstract

Liquid containers featuring multiple apertures for accessing the contents in one of a number of selected fashions. In one illustrative embodiment, the container is shaped as a bottle, having a body and neck, with a first aperture at the top of the neck. A flat bottom or base opposite the neck features at least one aperture, such as a traditional soda can opening with a scored section and a tab. In some embodiments, the bottom includes multiple apertures of different sizes, allowing for the selection of an aperture of desired size for a particular application. In some embodiments, the entire bottom may function as a removable lid.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A container for dispensing a liquid in multiple fashions, the container comprising:
 a container body having a narrowed neck at a first end and a base at an opposite second end;   an upper aperture disposed at the distal end of the narrowed neck; and   at least a first lower aperture disposed in the base comprising at least a first scored section, which may be forced inwards towards the first end, fracturing a surface of the base along a first scored line.   
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 21 , further comprising a second lower aperture disposed in the base comprising a second scored section, which may be forced inwards, fracturing a surface of the base along a second scored line. 
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 21 , further comprising a post disposed on the base; and a levering tab disposed on the post, positioned such that actuating a rear portion of the levering tab away from the base forces a distal portion of the tab towards the first end. 
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the post is disposed at a mid-point of the base with the at least a first scored section and the second scored section disposed at an angle with respect to one another around the mid-point of the base, and the at least a first lower aperture and the second lower aperture can be selected by rotating the levering tab around the post. 
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 24 , wherein the at least a first scored section and the second scored section are disposed opposite one another around the mid-point of the base. 
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the at least a first scored section is larger than the second scored section. 
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 26 , wherein the second scored section is disposed within the at least a first scored section. 
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 27 , wherein the distal portion of the levering tab includes a distal edge extending past at least one shoulder, such that actuating the rear portion of the levering tab away from the base forces the distal edge towards the first end to fracture the second scored section, opening the second lower aperture, and continued actuation forces the at least one shoulder towards the first end to fracture the at least a first scored section, opening the at least a first lower aperture. 
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein the upper aperture is closed by a crown cap crimped to the narrowed neck. 
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein the narrowed neck is threaded for attachment to a cap. 
     
     
         31 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein a resealable twist closure is disposed at the distal end of the narrowed neck for closure of the upper aperture. 
     
     
         32 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein a bottom portion of the container is threaded for replaceable removal of the base. 
     
     
         33 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein the container is constructed of aluminum. 
     
     
         34 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein the base at an opposite second end comprises an outer ridge and a recessed surface. 
     
     
         35 . An end for a beverage container, comprising
 a surface forming an end of a beverage container having a first side outside the container;   at least a first aperture disposed in the surface comprising at least a first section, which may be forced inwards, creating an opening through the surface along a first line;   a second aperture disposed in the surface comprising a second section, which may be forced inwards, creating an opening through the base along a second line;   a post disposed on the surface; and   an opening tab disposed on the post, positioned such that actuating a rear portion of the opening tab away from the surface forces a distal portion of the tab towards the surface, such that actuating the rear portion of the levering tab away from the surface forces the distal portion towards the container to fracture the second scored boundary line, opening the second aperture, and a second actuation of the levering tab forces the distal portion to fracture the first scored boundary line, opening the first aperture to create a larger opening in the surface.   
     
     
         36 . The end for a beverage container of  claim 35 , wherein the at least a first aperture disposed in the surface comprising at least a first section, which may be forced inwards, creating an opening through the surface along a first line comprises a first scored section defined by a first scored boundary line partially encircling the at least a first aperture from a first end to a second end and defining a first gap on the surface between the second end and the first end, which may be forced inwards, fracturing the surface along the first scored boundary line as the surface at the first gap is bent inward;
 and the second aperture disposed in the surface comprising a second section, which may be forced inwards, creating an opening through the base along a second line comprises a second scored section defined by a second scored boundary line partially encircling the second dispensing aperture from a first end thereof to a second end thereof and defining a second gap on the surface between the second and first ends of the scored boundary line, which may be forced inwards, fracturing the surface along the second scored boundary line as the surface at the second gap is bent inward.   
     
     
         37 . The end for a beverage container of  claim 36 , wherein the opening tab disposed on the post includes a distal edge extending past at least one shoulder, such that actuating a rear portion of the opening tab away from the surface forces the distal edge towards the surface to fracture the second scored boundary line, opening the second aperture, and continued actuation of the levering tab forces the shoulder towards the surface to fracture the first scored boundary line, opening the first aperture to create a larger opening in the surface. 
     
     
         38 . The end for a beverage container of  claim 37 , wherein the distal edge extending past the at least one shoulder of the levering tab is positioned, such that actuating the levering tab to move the rear portion thereof back towards the surface after opening the second dispensing aperture removes the distal edge of the levering tab from the second dispensing aperture such that a distal end of the second dispensing opening is accessible distal to the levering tab. 
     
     
         39 . The end for a beverage container of  claim 36 , wherein the second scored section is disposed within the first scored section. 
     
     
         40 . The end for a beverage container of  claim 39 , wherein the second scored section is disposed within the first scored section such that the second gap is within the area defined by the first scored boundary line and is distal to the first gap.