U.S. patent application number 11/839256 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-19 for interlocking container for conduction of flowable materials.
This patent application is currently assigned to Industrial Alchemy Kitchen, LLC. Invention is credited to Christopher Grivalsky, Rahul Panchal.
Application Number | 20090045157 11/839256 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40362146 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090045157 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Panchal; Rahul ; et
al. |
February 19, 2009 |
INTERLOCKING CONTAINER FOR CONDUCTION OF FLOWABLE MATERIALS
Abstract
An apparatus for containing and conducting flowable materials,
including liquids, pourable solids, or gases, the apparatus having
mateable dovetails on four sides, and mateable screw engagements at
the top and bottom. The screw engagements are operative to maintain
a sealed connection between successive containers, and contain
barriers which are adapted to be removed, whereby the material may
flow from one interconnected container to the next, in the manner
of piping. A lateral connection may additionally be formed by
mating portions at the leading and trailing ends of vertically
connected containers.
Inventors: |
Panchal; Rahul; (Brooklyn,
NY) ; Grivalsky; Christopher; (Miami, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PAUL D. BIANCO;Fleit Gibbons Gutman Bongini & Bianco PL
21355 EAST DIXIE HIGHWAY, SUITE 115
MIAMI
FL
33180
US
|
Assignee: |
Industrial Alchemy Kitchen,
LLC
Miami
FL
|
Family ID: |
40362146 |
Appl. No.: |
11/839256 |
Filed: |
August 15, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/10 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 21/0231 20130101;
B65D 21/0204 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/10 |
International
Class: |
B65D 21/00 20060101
B65D021/00 |
Claims
1. A container adapted to interlock vertically and laterally with
like containers, the container comprising: a first side including
an outer surface, and a first connecting member extending outwardly
from said outer surface, and having a narrow portion proximate said
outer surface relative to a wide portion distal to said outer
surface; a second side including an outer surface, and a second
connecting member extending inwardly from said outer surface, and
having a narrow portion proximate said outer surface relative to a
wide portion distal to said outer surface, adapted to slideably
engage a first connecting member of a like container to create a
lateral connection; a leading end comprising a threadably sealable
opening; a trailing end adapted to threadably and sealably engage a
leading end of a like container to create a vertical connection;
means for joining said first and second sides, and said leading and
trailing ends, whereby an interior volume is formed, adapted to
contain a flowable material; and an end wall in said trailing end
adapted to be openable; wherein a conduit may be formed by opening
an end wall in a container, and creating a vertical connection with
a like container.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein a first connecting member of a
container and a second connecting member or a like container form a
sliding dovetail joint.
3. The container of claim 1, wherein the container includes four
sides, wherein two sides are formed as said first side, and the
remaining two sides are formed as said second side,
4. The container of claim 1, wherein said first and second
connecting members extend from said leading end to said trailing
end.
5. The container of claim 1, wherein said container is formed from
a material selected from the group consisting of paper, wood,
pressed pulp, plastic, metal, material containing plastic, plastic
coated material.
6. The container of claim 1, further including a sealing surface
adjacent to said end wall, operative to form a liquid and gas tight
seal when a first container is threaded into a like container.
7. The container of claim 17 further including: a spout disposed
about said leading end; and a threaded ring disposed about said
spout.
8. The container of claim 7, wherein said trailing end further
comprises an inversion projecting into the interior of the
container and sized to permit passage and rotation of a spout of a
like container.
9. The container of claim 1, wherein at least two conduits formed
from at least two vertically connected like containers arc
connected laterally.
10. The container of claim 1, wherein said end wall is adapted to
be openable using means selected from the group consisting of,
scoring, partial perforation, adhered panel, plug.
11. The container of claim 10, wherein said means to form an
opening include a pull tab.
12. The container of claim 1, wherein a series of containers are
connected to form an apparatus selected from the group consisting
of: landscape piping, irrigation piping, solar heating structure,
fluid reservoir, gas reservoir, potable water conduit, sanitation
water conduit.
13. A container adapted to interlock vertically and laterally with
like containers, the container comprising: a first side including
an outer surface, and a first connecting member extending outwardly
from said outer surface, and having a narrow portion proximate said
outer surface relative to a wide portion distal to said outer
surface; a second side including an outer surface, and a second
connecting member extending inwardly from said outer surface, and
having a narrow portion proximate said outer surface relative to a
wide portion distal to said outer surface, adapted to slideably
engage a first connecting member of a like container to create a
lateral connection; a leading end comprising a threadably sealable
opening; a trailing end adapted to threadably and sealably engage a
leading end of a like container to create a vertical connection;
means for joining said first and second sides, and said leading and
trailing ends, whereby an interior volume is formed, adapted to
contain a flowable material; an end wall in said trailing end
adapted to be openable; a first coupling portion formed in said
trailing end; and a second coupling portion formed in said leading
end; wherein a conduit is formed by opening an end wall in a first
container, and threadably engaging a second container to create a
vertical connection; and wherein when containers are connected
vertically, a whole coupling is formed by the adjacent positioning
of said first coupling portion and said second coupling
portion.
14. The container of claim 13, wherein said first and second
coupling portions are each formed as a projection having the shape
of substantially half of a cylinder; and wherein when containers
are connected vertically, a cylindrically shaped projection is
formed by adjacent first and second coupling portions.
15. The container of claim 14, wherein said first and second
coupling portions are joinable by a cap, fitted over the
cylindrically shaped projection.
16. The container of claim 15, wherein said first coupling portion
and said second coupling portion are each provided with mating
threads; whereby the cap is threadably connectable to either said
cylindrically shaped projection or said leading end.
17. The container of claim 15, further including: a first indented
area adjacent to said first coupling; a second indented area
adjacent to said second coupling; wherein a finger may be inserted
into each of said first and second indented areas to facilitate
attaching or removing the cap.
18. The container of claim 13, further including: a first end wall
in said first coupling portion; a second end wall in said second
coupling portion; wherein at least one of said first and second end
walls is adapted to be openable.
19. A drink container adapted to interlock vertically and laterally
with like containers, the container comprising: first and second
sides, each including an outer surface, and a first connecting
member extending outwardly from said outer surface, and having a
narrow portion proximate said outer surface relative to a wide
portion distal to said outer surface; third and fourth sides, each
including an outer surface, and a second connecting member
extending inwardly from said outer surface, and having a narrow
portion proximate said outer surface relative to a wide portion
distal to said outer surface, adapted to slideably engage a first
connecting member of a like container to create a lateral
connection; a leading end having a spout, a threaded ring, and an
opening; a trailing end having an inversion extending from said
trailing end into the interior of the container, sized and shaped
to rotatably receive a spout and leading end threaded ring of a
like container, a trailing end threaded ring, disposed at the
interior end of said inversion, operative to threadably and
sealably engage a leading end threaded ring of a like container, to
create a vertical connection, and an end wall at the interior end
of said inversion adapted to be openable; a first coupling portion
formed in said trailing end and an adjacent side having the shape
of substantially half of a cylinder; a second coupling portion
formed in said leading end and an adjacent side having the shape of
substantially half of a cylinder; wherein when containers are
connected vertically, a whole coupling having the shape of
substantially a whole cylinder is formed by the adjacent
positioning of said first coupling portion and said second coupling
portion; and wherein a conduit may be formed by opening an end wall
in a container, and creating a vertical connection with a like
container.
20. The container of claim 18 wherein said first coupling portion
and said second coupling portion are each provided with thread
portions; whereby a cap threadably connectable to said leading end
threaded ring is threadably connectable to said cylindrically
shaped projection, when like containers are threaded together.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a container for flowable
materials, mateably engageable laterally and vertically with like
containers, Connections are provided whereby successive containers
may be joined in a sealed manner to conduct flowable materials from
one container to the next.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The disadvantages of landfilling solid consumable waste, and
plastic containers in particular, are well known. A common
alternative is to recycle containers, by collecting, sorting and
reprocessing the material, as by grinding, melting, and molding.
There are numerous problems with recycling plastics, however. These
include the need to carefully sort different types of plastic, the
cost of transporting the material to a reprocessing site, the high
energy required for melting and reprocessing the material, and the
difficulties associated with separating biodegradeable plastics, or
plastics containing dyes or additives.
[0003] These problems are avoided when a container is reused. A
challenge remains, however, to find sufficient demand for
containers in their existing form, so that large numbers of them
may be reused. Various approaches have been proposed, including
forming toy building blocks in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,175,498 to Garpow
et al, and D349046 to Brown, barrier walls in U.S. Patent
Publication 2006-0261063 A1 to Grosso, displays and Furniture in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,295 to Stoner, and sheds in U.S. Pat. No.
4,624,383 to Moore.
[0004] In Garpow and Brown, the utility of the containers are
limited in that the containers may be joined by mating portions,
but are easily separated. In Grosso and Moore, the lateral sides of
the container contain portions which mate and interlock, thus
enabling a wider variety of structures to be formed. In Grosso,
however, there is no integral interlocking vertical connection. In
Stoner, cans are threaded together vertically, but are not formed
with lateral interconnections. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,549 to Fasci
et al, vertical and lateral connections are made by snap fastening,
but are thus relatively easily pulled apart, as compared to the
interlocking connections of Grosso, Moore, or Stoner. In Moore, a
vertical threaded connection is disclosed, as well as lateral
interconnections on two sides of a container.
[0005] While the containers disclosed in the cited references
present some potential for reuse, there remains considerable demand
for a more versatile, and thus more sought after container, as
evidenced by the relatively small percentage of containers that are
reused today. It is accordingly an object of the invention to
provide a container with high vertical and lateral connection
strength, and which affords additional uses, whereby a much greater
incidence of reuse is realized.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In accordance with the invention, a container is provided
for containing flowable materials, such as liquids, pourable
solids, and gases. It is a goal of the invention to provide a
container which is favored by consumers, whereby consumable
producers are motivated to switch from non-reusable containers to
containers in accordance with the invention, whereby the
environmental benefits of reuse may be realized.
[0007] Accordingly, the container may be of any useable size, but
embodiments sized in the range of popular consumer containers are
advantageous. The container may be formed from a wide variety of
materials, including paper, wood, pressed pulp, plastic, metal, or
plasticised or plastic coated material. Plastic is a preferred
material for drink containers, and thus the container of the
present invention is advantageously made with plastic, both for its
acceptability from a consumer standpoint, and for its physical
properties with respect to manufacturing.
[0008] The body of the container may have any of a variety of
shapes with an internal volume. Advantageous shapes include those
most commonly found for containers of consumer products, including
elongated cylindrical or rectangular configurations. The latter has
the additional advantage of imparting addition strength to an
assemblage of containers.
[0009] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, at least
two lateral mating and interlocking portions extend along the side
of a container. Interlocking designs include dovetails, or any
other shaped profile which engages in a like manner. Specifically,
in accordance with the invention, an elongated engaging portion of
one container slideably engages an elongated engaging portion of
another container along the vertical axis of the container.
Containers thus joined cannot be separated by applying a force
perpendicular to the vertical axis without deformation or damage to
the engaging portions. To facilitate repetitive interlocking on all
four sides with a single container design, it is advantageous to
have opposing sides that are either both male engaging, or both
female engaging.
[0010] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a
spout is formed at a leading end of the container, terminating with
a threaded engaging ring. A threaded cap may be applied to the
engaging ring to seal the container. An inversion, or aperture is
formed at the trailing end of the container, extending into the
interior of the container, sized sufficiently large to rotatably
receive a spout from the leading end of a second mating container.
A threaded receiving ring is disposed at the terminal end of the
inwardly extending aperture, operative to threadably engage the
engaging ring at the leading end of the second container. In this
manner, like containers may be attached end to end, or vertically,
one to the other, in a secure manner. The shape of the spout may be
any of a variety of shapes, including conical, semispherical, and
tubular, or the spout may be eliminated, whereby the engaging ring
is disposed proximate the leading end of the container, and the
receiving ring is disposed proximate the trailing end of the
container.
[0011] Structures are formed by connecting successive containers
together, vertically and or laterally, in order to achieve the
desired configuration. Additional strength and thickness may be
generated by combining multiple lateral layers.
[0012] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an
additional or alternative connection is formed on the lateral
leading and terminating portions of the container. A portion of a
coupling is formed partly within the trailing end of the first
container, and a portion is formed partly within the leading end of
a second container. When containers are positioned end to end, a
structure results that is sized and shaped to receive a cap. When a
cap is positioned over the two portions, successive containers are
secured to each other, vertically, and are also prevented from
rotating with respect to each other.
[0013] Further in accordance with the invention, an end wall may be
provided at the terminal end of the inwardly extending aperture at
the trailing end of the container. The wall is operative to retain
flowable materials within the container. The wall may be provided
with a weakened portion, whereby the wall may be easily pierced,
split, pushed aside or removed, as by pushing with a finger, rod,
or other object. In so doing, containers connected vertically as
described above may be coupled to a supply of flowable material,
using threaded connectors or adapters, and the connected containers
thus used in the manner of piping to convey the flowable materials
from a source to a destination. Further, end wall portions of the
lateral couplings described above may also be provided with
weakened portions, whereby the flowable material may be tapped at
various points along the pipe.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] A more complete understanding of the present invention, and
the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily
understood by reference to the following detailed description when
considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a container in accordance with the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 depicts the container of FIG. 1, viewed from the
trailing end;
[0017] FIG. 2a depicts an alternative interlocking shape for the
container of FIG. 2;
[0018] FIG. 3 depicts a leading end of a container in accordance
with the invention, further illustrating detent engagements;
[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a container
in accordance with the invention;
[0020] FIG. 5 illustrates successively vertically coupled
containers in accordance with the invention;
[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates laterally connected containers in
accordance with the invention;
[0022] FIG. 7 depicts lateral coupling portions in accordance with
the invention;
[0023] FIG. 8 depicts the coupling portions of FIG. 6, with a
threadably engaged cap;
[0024] FIG. 9 depicts the coupling portions of FIG. 6, with
weakened end wall portions;
[0025] FIG. 10 depicts a cross-section of the container of FIG. 4,
taken along line 9-9;
[0026] FIG. 11 depicts alternative scaling methods in accordance
with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] Referring now to the figures in which like reference
numerals refer to like elements, an exemplary container 10 in
accordance with the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. Container
10 has an inner chamber 12 operative to contain, and as described
further below, transport flowable materials, such as liquids,
pourable solids, and gases. It is a goal of the invention to
provide a container which is favored by consumers, whereby
consumable producers are motivated to switch from non-reusable
containers to containers in accordance with the invention, whereby
the environmental benefits of reuse may be realized.
[0028] Accordingly, the container may be of any useable size, but
embodiments sized in the range of popular consumer containers would
be advantageous. T he container may be formed from a wide variety
of materials, including paper, wood, pressed pulp, plastic, metal,
or plasticised or plastic coated material. Plastic is a preferred
material for drink containers, and thus the container of the
present invention is advantageously made with plastic, both for its
acceptability from a consumer standpoint, and for its physical
properties with respect to manufacturing.
[0029] The body of the container may have any of a variety of
shapes with an internal volume. Advantageous shapes include those
most commonly found for containers of consumer products, including
elongated cylindrical or rectangular configurations. The latter has
the additional advantage of imparting addition strength to an
assemblage of containers. A container in accordance with the
invention may be advantageously formed in a triangular shape, as
well as in shapes having more than four sides.
[0030] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, and with
further reference to FIGS. 1-3, at least two lateral mating and
interlocking portions 14,16 extend along the side of a container.
Interlocking designs include dovetails 18, or any other shaped
profile which engages in a like manner, such as shapes 20,22 of
FIG. 2a. Specifically, in accordance with the invention, an
elongated engaging portion of one container slideably engages an
elongated engaging portion of another container along the vertical
axis of the container.
[0031] For male engaging portions, a connecting member extends
outwardly from the side of the container, and conversely, for
female engaging portions, a connecting member extends into the
interior of the container. In each case, the extension has a narrow
region close to the container side, and a wider portion further
away from the container side.
[0032] Containers thus joined cannot be separated by applying a
force perpendicular to the vertical axis without deformation or
damage to the engaging portions. To facilitate repetitive
interlocking on all four sides with a single container design, it
is advantageous to have two sides that are male engaging, such as
portions 14,14a, and two sides that are female engaging, such as
portions 16,16a. In the figures, opposite sides of the container
have like engaging portions, It is additionally possible to enable
continuous lateral connections where two adjacent sides have male
engaging portions, and the remaining two adjacent sides have female
engaging portions. Where more limited lateral connections are
acceptable, an engaging portion may be formed on one side of the
container, however a male style and a female style container would
be required. For containers with two engaging portions, it is
advantageous to have one engaging portion be male, and the other
female, in order that a single container style will suffice for
lateral connections.
[0033] In the figures, interlocking portions 14,16 extend from a
leading end 100 of container 10 to trailing end 102. It should be
understood, however, that interlocking portions 14,16 may extend
transversely, and thus perpendicular to an axis passing through the
leading and trailing ends of the container, without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0034] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a
spout 24 is formed at leading end 100, terminating with a threaded
engaging ring 26. A threaded cap 28 may be applied to the engaging
ring to seal the container. An aperture 30 is formed at trailing
end 102, extending as an inwardly projecting inversion into the
interior of the container, sized sufficiently large to rotatably
receive a spout from the leading end of a second mating container.
A threaded receiving ring 32 is disposed at the terminal end of the
inwardly extending aperture, operative to threadably engage the
engaging ring 26 at the leading end of a second container. It
should be understood, however, that threaded engagement may be
provided at any point along spout 24, with correspondingly
positioned threads within aperture 30.
[0035] In this manner, like containers may be attached end to end,
or vertically, one to the other, in a secure manner, as shown in
FIG. 5. The shape of the spout may be any of a variety of shapes,
including conical, semispherical, and tubular, or the spout may be
eliminated, as shown by container 34 of FIG. 4, whereby the
engaging ring 26 is disposed proximate leading end 100, and the
receiving ring 32 is disposed proximate trailing end 102.
[0036] With reference to FIG. 5, structures are formed by
connecting successive containers together, vertically and or
laterally, in order to achieve the desired configuration. Three
containers 10,10a,10b are shown, vertically connected, wherein
container 10a is threaded into container 10 via engaging ring 26
and receiving ring 32. Similarly, container 10b is threaded into
container 10a. When a container in accordance with the invention is
taller than it is wide, the vertical, or end to end connection, may
also be termed longitudinal.
[0037] Additional strength and thickness may be generated by
combining multiple lateral layers, as shown in FIG. 6. Containers
are connected laterally as described above. Examples include
containers 10c, 10d, and 10e. If a vertical connection is desired,
such connections are made first, while containers are not laterally
interconnected and are thus free to rotate, after which lateral
connections may be made. It is therefore important that
interlocking portions 14,16 align in vertically connected
containers.
[0038] With reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, in accordance with
another aspect of the invention, a portion of a lateral coupling 38
is formed on the lateral leading end 104 and lateral terminating
end 106 of container 10, as projections of substantially a half of
a cylinder. A whole lateral coupling 38 is formed by the adjacent
positioning of portion 40, formed in the trailing end of a first
container, and portion 42, formed in the leading end of a second
container. When containers are positioned vertically, or end to
end, a cylindrical structure is formed from portions 40,42 that is
sized and shaped to receive a joining member 44. In one embodiment,
the resultant shape is sized to receive cap 28, provided for
attachment to engaging ring 26. When cap 28 is positioned over the
two portions, successive containers are thus secured to each other,
vertically and are also prevented from rotating about a vertical
axis, with respect to each other. As can be seen in FIG. 8, cap 28
may be provided with a slot 46, or other tool engagement recess or
projection, to facilitate engagement of cap 28 with a tool, such as
a screw driver or wrench (not shown). Alternatively, as can be seen
in FIG. 10, recesses or indentations 64,66 may be provided adjacent
to one or both of portions 40,42, whereby fingers may more easily
grasp joining member 44, in order to facilitate manipulation of
joining member 44, as when attaching or removing joining member
44.
[0039] Referring again to FIG. 9, a lateral end area of portions
40,42 may be provided with weakened areas 48,50, whereby the wall
may be more easily pierced, split, pushed aside or removed, as by
pushing with a finger, rod, or other object. In one embodiment,
scoring 52,54 is provided, which does not completely penetrate the
material of portion 40, whereby the container 10 may maintain gas
or liquid sealing ability until area 48 or 50 is removed.
[0040] With reference to FIG. 10, aperture 30 terminates in an end
wall 56 which maintains the gas or liquid sealing ability of
container 10 at the trailing end of the container. As described
with respect to areas 48,50, end wall 56 may be similarly weakened,
as by scoring 58, and thus be easily removed in order to enable the
passage of liquid or gas from container to container when
successive containers 10 are connected vertically, thus forming a
pipe or conduit. Means of forming an aperture in end wall 56 is
discussed further, below, with respect to FIGS. 11a-11c.
[0041] The threaded connection between engaging ring 26 and
receiving ring 32 advantageously forms a gas or liquid tight seal
between successive containers. In one embodiment, the seal is
formed along the periphery of end wall 56, although a seal may
alternatively be formed below end wall 56, closer to or at trailing
end 102.
[0042] Accordingly, containers connected vertically as described
above may be coupled to a supply of flowable material, using
threaded connectors or adapters, and the connected containers thus
used in the manner of piping to convey the flowable materials from
a source to a destination. Lateral couplings, as described above,
may have weakened areas 48,50 removed, whereby the flowable
material may be tapped at various points along the pipe.
[0043] An alternative means of forming lateral coupling 38 is
illustrated in FIG. 10, in which portion 60 corresponds to portion
40, however portion 60 is provided with deformable ribs 62. A
portion corresponding to portion 42 (not shown) is similarly formed
with ribs. In this embodiment, a joining member, such as a cap
having a smooth or ribbed internal bore (not shown), may be pushed
onto the coupling to secure successive containers. Indentations
64,66 facilitate removing the cap using fingers or a tool. In
accordance with the invention, any or all sides of container 10 may
be provided with one or more lateral couplings as described.
[0044] With further reference to FIG. 6, it should be understood
that vertically connected containers configured for flowable
materials may be additionally connected laterally, thereby
increasing both the total flow volume capacity and strength of a
piping structure thus formed.
[0045] With reference to FIGS. 11a-11c, several embodiments in
accordance with the invention are illustrated for forming an
aperture for the passage of flowable material from a first
container to a second container. For clarity, each of FIGS. 11a-11c
illustrates only the end wall 56 of aperture 30. In FIG. 11a, a
thickened rib 70 is formed near the periphery of end wall 56. Cut
marks 72 indicate suggested locations for making cuts with a knife
or tool. Rib 70 thus serves to reduce the likelihood that the tool
will pass beyond the area to be cut, where it might otherwise
structurally weaken the container, or damage a sealing area 82
beyond rib 70. Cut marks 72 may be printed on end wall 56, or may
be formed from visible scoring. The scoring may be formed as a
continuous groove, or as shown, as a dotted pattern of partial
perforations.
[0046] In FIG. 11b, wall 56 is provided with a pull-off seal 74.
Tab 76 is grasped by fingers or a tool, and is pulled in order to
remove seal 74. Levering tab 76 outwards, away from a resting plane
essentially parallel with wall 56, may serve to form an initial
separation of seal 74 and wall 56. As tab 76 is pulled in a
direction away from the trailing end of container 10, seal 74
continues to separate from wall 56, until an aperture sufficiently
wide has been formed. Seal 74 may be adapted to be completely
separate from wall 56. Alternatively, seal 74 may be advantageously
formed to not separate entirely from wall 56, thus reducing the
incidence of litter. Seal 74 may be connected to container 10 along
a weakened path 76, formed between wall 56 and seal 74, wherein
weakened path 76 does not extend completely around the periphery of
seal 74. Seal 74 may alternatively be attached to container 10 with
adhesive or heat bonding, including ultrasonic bonding.
[0047] With reference to FIG. 11c, a plug 78 penetrates an aperture
in end wall 56. Dotted seal line 80 indicates a sealing region
between wall 56 and plug 78. In this manner, container 10 is formed
with a suitable aperture, and plug 78 is installed during the
manufacturing or filling process, where it may be stamped into
engagement with container 10, or be press fit, or fasted by
adhesive or heat bonding. As in FIG. 11b, a pull tab may be
provided, attached to plug 78, to facilitate removal.
[0048] Connected as described above, containers in accordance with
the present invention may be used to form a variety of structures,
including as examples landscape or irrigation piping, solar heating
structures, fluid or gas reservoirs, and potable or sanitation
water conduits. Containers may be cut transversely to form a cup or
receptacle, whose surface area may be increased through lateral
connections. A combination of lateral and vertical connections, in
combination with transverse cuts as described, can be used to
collect liquids or gases and conduct them to a collection point,
for example to collect rainwater, or to concentrate gas production
from decomposing farm waste. It should be emphasized that the
present invention is not limited to the uses described above, but
may be adapted to a variety of uses not described herein.
[0049] Due to the very low cost of containers in accordance with
the invention., it is possible to construct structures which would
otherwise be unfeasible in many communities, and thus may
significantly improve a standard of living therein, thereby
reducing human suffering. Containers may be collected in
communities where they were initially used to contain a consumer
product, and thereafter transported in bulk to communities where
they may be used as described herein.
[0050] All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by
reference in their entirety. In addition, unless mention was made
above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the
accompanying drawings are not to scale. There are many different
features to the present invention and it is contemplated that these
features may be used together or separately. Thus, the invention
should not be limited to any particular combination of features or
to a particular application of the invention. Further, it should be
understood that variations and modifications within the spirit and
scope of the invention might occur to those skilled in the art to
which the invention pertains. Accordingly, all expedient
modifications readily attainable by one versed in the art from the
disclosure set forth herein that are within the scope and spirit of
the present invention are to be included as further embodiments of
the present invention.
* * * * *