U.S. patent application number 10/655776 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-10 for collapsible container and method therefor.
Invention is credited to Varasteh, Steve.
Application Number | 20050051510 10/655776 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34226198 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050051510 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Varasteh, Steve |
March 10, 2005 |
Collapsible container and method therefor
Abstract
A collapsible storage container has a collapsible body section
for storing a liquid. A dispensing assembly is coupled to the
collapsible bottle for preventing leakage of the liquid while
allowing for the passage of the liquid stored within the
collapsible body section to be dispensed out by pressing down and
collapsing a portion of the collapsible body section.
Inventors: |
Varasteh, Steve;
(Scottsdale, AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WEISS & MOY PC
4204 NORTH BROWN AVENUE
SCOTTSDALE
AZ
85251
US
|
Family ID: |
34226198 |
Appl. No.: |
10/655776 |
Filed: |
September 5, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/382 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 1/0292 20130101;
B65D 51/1644 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/382 |
International
Class: |
B65D 090/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A collapsible storage container comprising: a collapsible body
section for storing a liquid, and a dispensing assembly coupled to
the collapsible bottle for preventing leakage of the liquid while
allowing for the passage of the liquid stored within the
collapsible body section to be dispensed out by pressing down and
collapsing a portion of the collapsible body section.
2. A collapsible storage container in accordance with claim 1
wherein the collapsible body section comprises: an opening portion
for dispensing the liquid; and a body portion for containing the
liquid wherein the body portion has a plurality of flexible ridges
to allow the body portion to expand and collapse to accommodate the
amount of liquid contained within the body portion.
3. A collapsible liquid container in accordance with claim 1
wherein the cap assembly comprises: a cap component removeably
coupled to an opening portion of the collapsible body section; a
hole in the cap component for the passage of air and liquid; and a
dispensing tube coupled to the hole in the cap component.
4. A collapsible storage container comprising: a collapsible body
section for storing a liquid wherein the collapsible body section
comprises: an opening portion for dispensing the liquid; and a body
portion for containing the liquid wherein the body portion has a
plurality of flexible ridges to allow the body portion to expand
and collapse to accommodate the amount of liquid contained within
the body portion, and a dispensing assembly coupled to the
collapsible bottle for preventing leakage of the liquid while
allowing for the passage of the liquid stored within the
collapsible body section to be dispensed out by pressing down and
collapsing a portion of the collapsible body section wherein the
cap assembly comprises: a cap component removeably coupled to the
opening portion of the collapsible body section; a hole in the cap
component for the passage of air and liquid; and a dispensing tube
coupled to the hole in the cap component.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates generally to a container, and more
specifically, to a dispensing container that collapses and expands
to accommodate the amount of liquid contained within it.
[0003] 2. Background of the Invention
[0004] Many individuals have containers for storing any type of
drink or other types of liquids. Most containers for storing
liquids are formed in a predetermined non-adjustable size. The size
of the container cannot be adjusted despite how much or how little
liquid is contained within them. A problem arises when the
container is not full in that the container still occupies the same
amount of storage space as a full bottle would.
[0005] Several attempts have been made to solve the above problem.
Some of these attempts are listed below.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,936 illustrates a collapsible liquid
container with a flexible fluid container that expands and
collapses according to how much liquid is contained within it.
However, this flexible fluid container is housed within the
dispenser body. The problem with this is that while the flexible
fluid container may collapse when it is emptied, the overall size
of the liquid container remains the same.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,316 describes a valved bottle cap. One
embodiment of the cap consists of an outer cap body and an inner
cap body. The cap is secured to the bottle by a pair of guide
sleeves that interlock with the grooves of the central tube.
Although this may secure the cap to the water bottle, repeated
application and removal of the cap could cause the guide sleeves to
break. Once the guide sleeves are broken, the cap would not stay in
place and would no longer be functional.
[0008] Therefore, a need existed to provide an improve storage and
dispensing container. The improved storage and dispensing container
will be adjustable in size. The improved storage and dispensing
container must be able to change its size in order to accommodate
the amount of liquid contained within it while occupying no more
storage space than necessary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,
it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved
storage and dispensing container It is another object of the
present invention to provide an improved storage and dispensing
container that is adjustable in size.
[0010] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide an improved storage and dispensing container that may
change sizes in order to accommodate the amount of liquid contained
within it so as to take up no more storage space than
necessary.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention a
collapsible storage container is disclosed. The collapsible storage
container has a collapsible body section for storing a liquid. A
dispensing assembly is coupled to the collapsible bottle. The
dispensing assembly is used for preventing leakage of the liquid
while allowing for the passage of the liquid stored within the
collapsible body section to be dispensed out by pressing down and
collapsing a portion of the collapsible body section.
[0012] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of
the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular,
description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The novel features believed characteristic of the invention
are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, as well
as a preferred mode of use, and advantages thereof, will best be
understood by the following detailed description of illustrated
embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein like reference numerals and symbols represent
like elements.
[0014] FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of one embodiment of
the collapsible storage container of the present.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a side view of the collapsible storage container
of FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the plurality of
ridges on the body portion of the collapsible storage container
taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a partial side view of the collapsible storage
container of the present invention with another embodiment of the
cap assembly.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the collapsible storage
container of the present invention with another embodiment of the
cap assembly.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cap assembly of FIG.
5 taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.
[0020] FIG. 7 is an elevated perspective view of another embodiment
of the collapsible storage container of the present.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the collapsible storage container
of FIG. 7.
[0022] FIG. 9 is an elevated perspective view of the collapsible
storage container of FIG. 7 in a fully collapsed position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Referring to the FIGS. 1-3 wherein like numerals and symbols
represent like elements, a collapsible storage container 10 is
shown. The collapsible storage container 10 is used to store any
kind of liquid. As the amount of liquid contained within the
collapsible storage container 10 increases or decreases, the
collapsible storage container 10 can be expanded or collapsed
accordingly. Thus, the collapsible storage container 10 will not
occupy any more storage space than necessary.
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the collapsible storage container 10
is comprised of a main body section 20 and a cap assembly 30. The
main body section 20 has an opening portion 21 and a collapsible
body portion 22. On the collapsible body portion 22 exists a
plurality of flexible ridges 23. The flexible ridges 23 allow the
collapsible body portion 22 to expand and collapse to accommodate
the amount of liquid contained within it. A gripping edge 24 on the
collapsible body portion 22 may also be present. The gripping edge
24 is used to help provide an individual with a firm grasp on the
collapsible body portion 22 while expanding and collapsing it.
[0025] A date indicator 25 may be placed on the collapsible body
portion 22 of the main body section 20. The date indicator 25 will
provide an area to denote the freshness of the liquid contained
within the collapsible storage container 10. When a liquid is
placed in the collapsible storage container 10, one can denote the
date on the date indicator 25.
[0026] A plurality of lettering 27 may also be present on the
collapsible body portion 22 of the main body section 20. The
plurality of lettering 27 will serve as a volume indicator that
will denote the amount of liquid contained within the main body
section 20. The plurality of lettering 27 functions in the
following manner. When the flexible ridges 23 are compressed, the
lettering 27 on the side of the collapsible body section 20 will
come together and display a message indicating the amount of liquid
stored within the collapsible body section 20 (i.e., 3/4 full, 1/2
full, 14 full, etc).
[0027] An attachment device is used to couple the cap assembly 30
to the main body section 20. In accordance with one embodiment of
the present invention, one or more spiraled ridges 29 are present
on the opening portion 21 of the main body section 20. The spiraled
ridges 29 are used to allow the cap assembly 30 to be snapped or
screwed on and attached to the main body section 20.
[0028] The cap assembly 30 has a cap component 31, an opening 33 in
the cap component 31 for allowing the passage of air and liquid,
and a stopper component 34. The cap component 31 has one or more
spiraled ridges 32. The spiraled ridges 32 of the cap component
engage the spiraled ridges 29 on the opening portion 21. This will
allow for the snapping or screwing on and attaching of the cap
assembly 30 to the main body section 20. The stopper component 34
is coupled to the cap component 31 so as to prevent loss of the
stopper component 34 when the cap assembly 30 is in the open
position. The stopper component 34 is inserted into the hole 33 to
prevent the passage of air and liquid.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 4, another embodiment of the cap assembly
40 is shown. The cap assembly is designated 40 to indicate a
different embodiment. The cap assembly 40 comprises a cap component
41, a stopper component 44, and a flexible flap 45 that traverses
the opening portion 21 of the main body section 20 to help regulate
the flow of air and water. The cap component 41 has a plurality of
spiraled ridges 42 that engage the spiraled ridges 29 on the
opening portion 21 for screwing on and attaching the cap assembly
40 to the main body section 20. The stopper component 44 has at
least one ridge 46 and the hole 43 has at least one groove 47 to
anchor the stopper component 44 into the hole 43 thus preventing
loss of the stopper component 44 while the cap assembly 41 is in an
open position.
[0030] When the main body section 20 is expanded or collapsed, the
air passes through the hole 43. By applying pressure to the cap
assembly 40, the flexible flap 45 that traverses the opening
portion 21 of the main body section 20 will be lowered in order to
allow air to escape out of the opening 21 and through the hole 43.
When pressure is released from the cap assembly 40, the flexible
flap 45 will close thereby preventing air and liquid from
escaping.
[0031] FIGS. 5 and 6 show another embodiment of the cap assembly
50. The cap assembly 50 has a cap component 51, a hole 53, and a
buoyant stopper component 54 fitting within the cap component 51.
The cap component 51 has a plurality of spiraled ridges 52 that
engage the spiraled ridges 29 on the opening portion 21 thereby
screwing on and attaching the cap assembly 50 to the main body
section 20.
[0032] The buoyant stopper component 54 has a small lower flat
portion 55 fitting within the opening portion 21 of the main body
section 20. This small lower flat portion 55 is coupled to a large
upper flat portion 56. The large upper flat portion 55 is larger
than the opening portion 21 of the collapsible bottle 20 so as to
prevent the entire buoyant stopper component 54 from sliding down
into the body portion 22 of the collapsible bottle 20. A small
space exists between the small lower flat portion 55 and the
opening portion 21 of the main body section 20 and also between the
large upper flat portion 55 and the cap component 51 to allow for
the passage of air. When the main body section 20 is gently
compressed, air will be allowed to flow out of the small space
exists between the small lower flat portion 55 and the opening
portion 21. However, once the liquid in the collapsible body
portion 22 pushes upward against the small lower flat portion 55,
the large upper flat portion 56 overlaps the hole 53 in the cap
component 51 thereby blocking it and preventing the passage of air
and liquid out of the collapsible beverage container.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 7-9, another embodiment of the
collapsible storage container 10 is shown. In this embodiment, the
collapsible storage container 10 is comprised of a main body
section 20 and a dispensing mechanism 60. The main body section 20
has an opening portion 21 and a collapsible body portion 22. On the
collapsible body portion 22 exists a plurality of flexible ridges
23. The flexible ridges 23 allow the collapsible body portion 22 to
expand and collapse to accommodate the amount of liquid contained
within it.
[0034] An attachment device is used to couple the dispensing
mechanism 60 to the main body section 20. In accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention, one or more spiraled ridges
are present on the opening portion 21 of the main body section 20.
The spiraled ridges are used to allow the dispensing mechanism 60
to be snapped or screwed on and attached to the main body section
20.
[0035] The dispensing mechanism 60 has a cap component 62 for
securing the dispensing mechanism to the main body section 20, and
a dispensing tube 64 in fluid communication with the cap component
62 for allowing the passage of air and liquid out of the dispensing
mechanism. The cap component 62 may have one or more spiraled
ridges. The spiraled ridges of the cap component engage spiraled
ridges on the opening portion 21. This will allow for the snapping
or screwing on and attaching of the dispensing mechanism 60 to the
main body section 20.
[0036] It should be noted that the body section 20 may contain
elements previously discussed. For example, the body section 20 may
contain a gripping device to allow one to better hold the body
section 20. The body section 20 may further have a volume
indication printed on the side of the body section.
[0037] In order to dispense the liquid contained within the
collapsible storage container 10, one simply presses down on the
collapsible storage container 10 or the dispensing mechanism 60 as
shown in FIG. 9. The liquid stored within the collapsible storage
container 10 will be dispensed out through the dispensing tube 64
of the cap component 62.
[0038] It is the intention that the inventions not be limited only
to the specific structures, materials, or acts that are described
in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all
structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function,
along with any and all known or later-developed equivalent
structures, materials, or acts for performing the claimed function.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with
reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood
by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in
form or details may be made therein without departing from the
spirit of and the scope of the invention.
* * * * *