Holding system for inverted containers

Abstract

A system for storing a container housing a viscous material in an inverted and nearly vertical position, thereby storing the viscous material nearer the container opening for easier and quicker access. It provides an arcuate holder having two arcuate edges and two approximately-straight longitudinal edges for so holding at least one shampoo or conditioner type container. Shown are both a single-container and a multiple-container versions; and these holders may be efficiently made by the illustrated method for manufacturing, from either a natural bamboo rod or a multiple-foot-long right round hollow cylindrical body having a central axis.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 ) A holder system for holding at least one inverted container for viscous substances in an inverted position between uses, comprising, in combination: 
 a) a body means, comprising a portion of an approximate right round hollow cylinder having an arcuate surface having two arcuate edges and two approximately-straight longitudinal edges lying approximately in a plane, for being supported along said longitudinal edges in a stable position on an approximately horizontal surface; and    b) an aperture means, comprising, in an upper portion of said arcuate surface, at least one hole, for loosely receiving a container cap of the inverted container;    c) wherein said holder system is constructed and arranged to maintain the inverted container in about a vertical position.    
     
     
         2 ) A holder system for holding at least one inverted container for viscous substances in an inverted position between uses, comprising, in combination: 
 a) an arcuate body, comprising a portion of an approximate right round hollow cylinder having an arcuate surface having two arcuate edges and two approximately-straight longitudinal edges lying approximately in a first plane, constructed and arranged to be supported along said longitudinal edges in a stable position on an approximately horizontal surface; and    b) in an upper portion of said arcuate surface, at least one hole structured and arranged to loosely receive a container cap of the inverted container;    c) wherein said holder system is constructed and arranged to maintain the inverted container in about a vertical position.    
     
     
         3 ) A holder system according to  claim 2  wherein: 
 a) said longitudinal edges comprise a non-slip surface.  
 
     
     
         4 ) A holder system according to  claim 3  wherein: 
 a) said non-slip surface comprises a slit tube.  
 
     
     
         5 ) A holder system according to  claim 2  wherein: 
 a) each said arcuate edge comprises less than 180 degrees of arc.  
 
     
     
         6 ) A holder system according to  claim 5  wherein: 
 a) each said arcuate edge comprises from about 120 degrees to about 180 degrees of arc.  
 
     
     
         7 ) A holder system according to  claim 6  wherein: 
 a) an effective outside diameter of said portion of said approximate right round hollow cylinder is at least about three inches.  
 
     
     
         8 ) A holder system according to  claim 7  wherein: 
 a) said upper portion of said arcuate surface comprises at least two said holes.  
 
     
     
         9 ) A holder system according to  claim 8  wherein: 
 a) each respective said hole is approximately round and has an associated respective centerline axis perpendicular to said first plane.  
 
     
     
         10 ) A holder system according to  claim 9  wherein: 
 a) a minimum first distance between any adjoining pair of said respective centerline axes is about four inches.  
 
     
     
         11 ) A holder system according to  claim 10  wherein: 
 a) a minimum second distance between a centerline axis and a said arcuate edge is about one inch.  
 
     
     
         12 ) A holder system according to  claim 11  wherein: 
 a) each said hole has about the same hole diameter as each other said hole; and  
 b) a size of each said hole diameter is selected from the group consisting of 
 i) about one and one-quarter inches  
 ii) about two inches.  
 
 
     
     
         13 ) A holder system according to  claim 9  wherein: 
 a) said upper portion of said arcuate surface comprises four said holes, comprising 
 i) two outer said holes, each adjacent a said arcuate edge, and  
 ii) two inner said holes situate between said two outer holes.  
 
 
     
     
         14 ) A holder system according to  claim 13  wherein: 
 a) said two outer holes each have a diameter of about one and one-quarter inches; and  
 b) said two inner said holes each have a diameter of about two inches.  
 
     
     
         15 ) A holder system according to  claim 14  wherein: 
 a) a distance between any adjoining pair of said respective centerline axes of said inner and outer holes is about four inches; and  
 b) a distance between a centerline axis of a said outer hole and a said arcuate edge is about one and one half inches.  
 
     
     
         16 ) A holder system according to  claim 11  wherein: 
 a) each said hole has about the same hole diameter as each other said hole; and  
 b) each said hole diameter is about 0.85 inches.  
 
     
     
         17 ) A holder system according to  claim 2  wherein: 
 a) said upper portion of said arcuate surface comprises at least two said holes; and  
 b) all said holes are arranged along a horizontal longitudinal row, having a midpoint, of said arcuate surface.  
 
     
     
         18 ) A holder system according to  claim 17  wherein: 
 a) an effective outside diameter of said portion of said approximate right round hollow cylinder is at least about three inches;  
 b) said arcuate body has a transverse height of about one and one-half inches;  
 c) each respective said hole is approximately round and has an associated respective centerline axis perpendicular to said first plane;  
 d) a distance between any adjoining pair of said respective centerline axes of said holes is about two inches; and  
 e) a distance between a said centerline axis of a said hole and an adjoining said arcuate edge is about one inch.  
 
     
     
         19 ) A method of making a holder system for holding at least one inverted container for viscous substances in an inverted position between uses, comprising, in combination, the steps of: 
 a) providing a multiple-foot-long right round hollow cylindrical body having a central axis;    b) cutting, along a first plane, said long right round hollow cylindrical body longitudinally, parallel to said central axis, in such manner as to provide at least two resulting first body portions, each said first body portion having two arcuate edges and two approximately-straight longitudinal edges lying approximately in said first plane;    c) cutting, along a second plane, each said resulting first body portion, transversely, perpendicular to said central axis, in such manner as to provide multiple resulting second body portions, each said second body portion having two arcuate edges and two approximately-straight longitudinal edges lying approximately in said first plane; and    d) drilling, along a third plane, each said multiple resulting second body portion, in such manner as to provide spaced holes along said third plane, parallel to said central axis and perpendicular to said first plane.    
     
     
         20 ) A method according to  claim 19  further comprising the step of: 
 a) smoothing resulting cut edges of said second body portions.