Storage and Dispensing System

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a liquid storage and dispensing system includes a closure configured with a spout that is releasably coupled to a body. The body has a base integrally formed with a front region, a back region, and two side regions that form a cavity for storage of a substance. For placement of a product label, the front region is relatively flatter than the two side regions and the back region, and the front region slopes inwardly from the base such that the front region faces upwardly when the base is placed on a horizontal surface. Each of the two side regions includes an indentation proximate the opening and aligned with a longitudinal axis passing through the center of body. The indentations form a handle for grasping the body while dispensing the substance. The front region and the indentations form a volume in the upper portion of the body that is less than the lower portion of the body.

1 . A storage and dispensing system comprising:
 a body comprising:
 a cavity for storage of a substance; and 
 an opening for placement and dispensing of the substance in the cavity; and 
   a closure removably coupled to the opening, the closure comprising:
 a closure base; 
 a spout having an inner perimeter defining an aperture in the closure base, the spout attached to and extending above the closure base; 
 a cap coupled to the closure base and selectively movable from a closed position over the spout to an open position away from the spout such that the substance may be dispensed from the container; 
 a protuberance coupled to the cap and having an outer perimeter operable to resiliently engage the inner perimeter of the spout when in the closed position; and 
 a drip-catching member coupled to the cap inside of the protuberance, the drip-catching member operable to resist leakage of residual product from protuberance when in the open position. 
   
   
   
       2 . The storage and dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the spout comprises an oblong opening with a narrow portion through which the substance is dispensed. 
   
   
       3 . The storage and dispensing system of  claim 2 , wherein the spout comprises a rear opening region opposite the narrow portion that flares outwardly from the closure base. 
   
   
       4 . The storage and dispensing system of  claim 2 , wherein the narrow portion flares outwardly from the closure base. 
   
   
       5 . The storage and dispensing system of  claim 3 , wherein the protuberance is formed of a resilient material that is conformed to the shape of the inner perimeter of the spout when in the closed position. 
   
   
       6 . The storage and dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the closure comprises at least one tab that is operable to engage a corresponding at least one tab stop configured on the body. 
   
   
       7 . The storage and dispensing system of  claim 5 , wherein the body comprises at least one anti back-off element that is operable to resist a backward rotation of the closure relative to the body when the closure is coupled to the body. 
   
   
       8 . The storage and dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a longitudinal axis passing through the center of the body, the spout being aligned with the longitudinal axis at the center of the closure. 
   
   
       9 . The storage and dispensing system of  claim 2 , wherein the closure base comprises a crab-claw seal integrally formed with the closure base and operable to resiliently press against the opening of the body when the closure is coupled to the body. 
   
   
       10 . A storage and dispensing system comprising:
 a closure having a spout for dispensing a substance; and   a body having a base, a front region, a back region, two side regions, and a cavity for storage of the substance, the body has an opening that is selectively closed by the closure, the front region being relatively flatter than the two side regions and the back region for placement of a product label, the front region sloping inwardly from the base, each of the two side regions comprising an indentation proximate the opening, the indentations forming a handle for grasping the body while dispensing the substance;   wherein the front region and the indentations form an upwardly converging conical shape such that the substance has a center-of-gravity less than half an overall height of the storage and dispensing system.   
   
   
       11 . The storage and dispensing system of  claim 10 , wherein the substance comprises a liquid food product. 
   
   
       12 . The storage and dispensing system of  claim 10 , wherein the center-of-gravity is less than 34.1 percent of an overall height of the storage and dispensing system. 
   
   
       13 . The storage and dispensing system of  claim 10 , wherein the back region and two side regions include at least one horizontally extending side rib, the front region being free of the at least one horizontally extending side rib. 
   
   
       14 . The storage and dispensing system of  claim 10 , wherein the closure comprises a side wall having a peripheral shape and size that is essentially similar to a peripheral shape and size as an upper edge of the body, the side wall of the closure disposed proximate the upper edge of the body when the closure is coupled to the body. 
   
   
       15 . The storage and dispensing system of  claim 10 , wherein the volumetric capacity of the body in the range of 16 to 32 ounces. 
   
   
       16 . A storage and dispensing system comprising:
 a generally round body having a longitudinal axis passing through the center of the body, a cavity for storage of a substance, and an opening for placement and dispensing of the substance from the cavity, the body comprising:
 a pair of indentations formed opposite one another on a side portion of the body, the indentations forming a handle for grasping the body while dispensing the substance; and 
   a closure removably coupled to the opening, the closure comprising:
 a spout attached to and extending above the closure base, the spout being oblong in shape with a narrow portion through which the substance is dispensed; and 
 a cap coupled to the closure base and selectively movable from a closed position over the spout to an open position away from the spout such that the substance may be dispensed from the container; and 
   wherein the closure comprises at least one tab that is operable to engage a corresponding at least one tab stop configured on the body such that the narrow portion of the spout extends outwardly from the longitudinal axis in a direction generally parallel to the pair of indentations when the at least one tab engages the at least one tab stop.   
   
   
       17 . The storage and dispensing system of  claim 16 , wherein the indentations are aligned with the longitudinal axis of the body. 
   
   
       18 . The storage and dispensing system of  claim 16 , wherein the closure comprises a closure base having a crab-claw seal integrally formed with the closure base and operable to resiliently press against the opening of the body when the closure is coupled to the body. 
   
   
       19 . The storage and dispensing system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one tab stop comprises at least one anti back-off element that is operable to resist a backward rotation of the closure relative to the body when the closure is coupled to the body. 
   
   
       20 . The storage and dispensing system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one tab comprises a pair of tabs and the at least one tab stops comprise a pair of tab stops, the pair of tab stops being integrally formed on the closure opposite one another about the longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       21 . The storage and dispensing system of  claim 16 , wherein the volumetric capacity of the body is approximately 16 to 32 ounces.