Self-Righting Containers

Abstract

An open self-righting container comprising a shell with a bottom truncated non-spherical Gomboc-like surface and a wall projecting upwardly therefrom, an interior cavity, a bottom rest surface at a stable equilibrium point of the shell, and a top opening opposite the rest surface where the interior of the shell may include a meltable solid fuel fitted with a wick.

1 . An open self-righting container comprising:
 a shell with a bottom truncated non-spherical Gomboc-like surface having an opening at its top edge and a wall projecting upwardly from the opening, an interior cavity, a rest surface at a stable equilibrium point of the shell, and an opening opposite the rest surface.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the bottom truncated non-spherical Gomboc-like surface is defined by passing a plane across a non-spherical Gomboc-like shell. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  in which rest surface is flat. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1  in which the base rest surface is concave and encircled by a planar edge. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  in which the top section comprises a continuous flat wall. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5  in which the flat wall is generally perpendicular to the top edge of the bottom outer truncated non-spherical Gomboc-like surface. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1  in which the wall includes generally planer sections on opposite sides of the shell intersecting curved sections located between the generally planer sections. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the interior cavity is filled in whole or in part with liquids, powders, particulates or other matter. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the interior cavity is filled in whole or in part with a meltable solid fuel. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9  including a wick embedded in and extending from the meltable solid fuel. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 9  wherein the meltable solid fuel includes an active material chosen from the group consisting of fragrances, air fresheners, deodorizers, odor eliminators, malodor counteractants, insecticides, insect repellants, medicinal substances, disinfectants, sanitizers, mood enhancers and aroma-therapy compositions. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 9  wherein a weight having a density greater than that of the meltable solid fuel is positioned within the container adjacent the rest surface. 
     
     
         13 . An open self-righting container comprising:
 a shell with a bottom portion and a top portion, the bottom portion having opposite cylindrical sections joined along intersecting curves to opposite spherical segments and a rest surface at a stable equilibrium point of the shell; and   the top portion being a wall projecting upwardly from the bottom portion.   
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13  in which the rest surface is flat. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 13  in which the rest surface is concave and encircled by a planar edge. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 13  in which the top portion comprises a continuous flat wall. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16  in which the flat wall projects perpendicularly from the bottom portion. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 13  in which the wall includes generally planer sections on opposite sides of the shell intersecting curved sections located between the generally planer sections. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 13  in which the cylindrical sections comprise approximately quarter segments of a cylinder and the spherical sections comprise proximally quarter segments of a sphere. 
     
     
         20 . An open self-righting container comprising:
 a shell with a bottom truncated non-spherical Gomboc-like surface having an opening at its top edge and a wall projecting upwardly from the opening, an interior cavity, a rest surface at a stable equilibrium point of the shell, and an opening opposite the rest surface;   a meltable solid fuel in whole or in part filling the interior cavity; and   a wick embedded in and extending from the meltable solid fuel.