U.S. patent application number 11/958155 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-18 for container with air intakes.
Invention is credited to Sang Gi Lee.
Application Number | 20090152282 11/958155 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40751859 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090152282 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Sang Gi |
June 18, 2009 |
Container with Air Intakes
Abstract
A container including a vessel, a top plate, a first hole, and
one or more second holes is provided. The vessel is for storing
liquid, and includes open top and closed bottom portions. The first
hole on the top plate has a first open state and a second close
state, and the first hole allows the liquid to flow through the
first hole in the first open state. Each of the second holes on the
top plate includes a first open state and a second close state.
When at least one of the second holes in the first open state
allows air traffics between inside and outside. At least one of the
second holes allows air flow through the second hole so as to
equalize air pressure of the inside and outside of the container
when the liquid flows through the first hole.
Inventors: |
Lee; Sang Gi; (Los Angeles,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PARK LAW FIRM
3255 WILSHIRE BLVD, SUITE 1110
LOS ANGELES
CA
90010
US
|
Family ID: |
40751859 |
Appl. No.: |
11/958155 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/709 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 33/01 20130101;
B65D 77/225 20130101; B65D 2205/02 20130101; B65D 5/70
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/709 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/22 20060101
A47G019/22 |
Claims
1. A container for storing and suckling liquid comprising: a vessel
configured to store liquid, the vessel portion comprising an open
top portion and a closed bottom portion; a top plate configured to
close and seal the open top portion of the vessel; a first hole
provided on the top plate, wherein the first hole comprises a first
open state and a second close state, and wherein the first hole is
configured to allow the liquid to flow through the first hole in
the first open state, and wherein the first hole is configured to
keep the liquid from leaking through the first hole in the second
close state; and one or more second holes provided on the top
plate, each of the one or more holes comprises a first open state
and a second close state, wherein when at least one of the one more
second holes is in the first open state the opened second hole is
configured to allow air traffics between inside and outside of the
container, and wherein when all of the one or more second holes are
in the second close state the second holes block flowing of the air
through the second holes, wherein at least one of the one or more
second holes allows air flow through the second hole so as to
equalize air pressure of the inside and outside of the container
when the liquid flows through the first hole.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the top plate is integrated
with the vessel.
3. The container of claim 1, wherein the first hole is covered by a
pokable membrane.
4. The container of claim 3, wherein the pokable membrane is
configured to be broken by poking with a straw, and wherein the
size of the first hole is determined by the size of the straw.
5. The container of claim 3, wherein the first hole is
substantially circular in cross-section.
6. The container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or
more second holes is covered by a pokable membrane, and wherein the
pokable membrane is configured to be broken by poking with a
straw.
7. The container of claim 1, wherein the size of the second hole is
smaller than the size of the first hole.
8. The container of claim 7, wherein the second hole is small
enough to keep the liquid from flowing with surface tension of the
liquid at the second hole.
9. The container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or
more second holes is blocked with a plug.
10. The container of claim 9, wherein the plug is connected to the
top plate.
11. The container of claim 9, wherein the plug is configured to
close the second hole when pushed in and open when plucked out.
12. The container of claim 11, wherein the plug comprises a head
and a stem extended from the head, and wherein the stem comprises a
leaking hole leading from a bottom of the stem to a side wall of
the stem such that the leaking hole is exposed and opens to the
outside when plucked out by a predetermined length.
13. The container of claim 1, wherein the second hole is blocked by
a sticky membrane, and wherein the sticky membrane is configured to
be opened and closed repeatedly.
14. The container of claim 13, wherein an edge of the sticky
membrane is fixed to the top plate.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a container with air
intakes.
[0002] More particularly, this invention relates to a container
with air intakes to equalize air pressure inside and outside of the
container.
[0003] Soft drink or beverage has been packaged in a paper pack,
which has a hole for a straw.
[0004] When a user drinks from such a pack, the pressure inside the
pack decreases as more and more liquid are sucked out through the
straw. Therefore, it gets harder and harder to drink as the
pressure difference becomes larger. This low pressure inside and
high ambient pressure outside is caused because the straw fits
tight against the rim of the hole leaving almost no space through
which the air flows in and out. For the same reason, the liquid
squirts out easily when the pack is squeezed even slightly.
[0005] These problems are clear to see from a paper pack 1 of a
prior art as shown in FIG. 1. A straw 4 is held tightly in a hole 3
provided on the paper pack 1. There is no path for air flow easing
out the pressure building across walls of the paper pack 1.
[0006] Accordingly, a need for a container with air intakes has
been present for a long time considering the range of use along
with a straw. This invention is directed to solve the problems and
satisfy the long-felt need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages
of the prior art.
[0008] An object of the invention is to provide a container which
does not overflows through a straw when squeezed.
[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a container
which ease out the air pressure difference between the inside and
outside of the container.
[0010] An aspect of the invention provides a container for storing
and suckling liquid.
[0011] The container comprises a vessel, a top plate, a first hole,
and one or more second holes.
[0012] The vessel is configured to store liquid, and comprises an
open top portion and a closed bottom portion.
[0013] The top plate is configured to close and seal the open top
portion of the vessel.
[0014] The first hole is provided on the top plate. The first hole
comprises a first open state and a second close state, and the
first hole is configured to allow the liquid to flow through the
first hole in the first open state. The first hole is configured to
keep the liquid from leaking through the first hole in the second
close state.
[0015] The one or more second holes are provided on the top plate,
each of the one or more holes comprises a first open state and a
second close state. When at least one of the one more second holes
is in the first open state the opened second hole is configured to
allow air traffics between inside and outside of the container, and
when all of the one or more second holes are in the second close
state the second holes block flowing of the air through the second
holes.
[0016] At least one of the one or more second holes allows air flow
through the second hole so as to equalize air pressure of the
inside and outside of the container when the liquid flows through
the first hole.
[0017] The top plate may be integrated with the vessel.
[0018] The first hole may be covered by a pokable membrane. The
pokable membrane may be configured to be broken by poking with a
straw, and the size of the first hole may be determined by the size
of the straw.
[0019] The first hole may be substantially circular in
cross-section.
[0020] At least one of the one or more second holes may be covered
by a pokable membrane, and the pokable membrane may be configured
to be broken by poking with a straw.
[0021] The size of the second hole may be smaller than the size of
the first hole. The second hole may be small enough to keep the
liquid from flowing with surface tension of the liquid at the
second hole.
[0022] In certain embodiments, at least one of the one or more
second holes may be blocked with a plug. The plug may be connected
to the top plate. The plug may be configured to close the second
hole when pushed in and open when plucked out. The plug may
comprise a head and a stem extended from the head, and the stem may
comprise a leaking hole leading from a bottom of the stem to a side
wall of the stem such that the leaking hole is exposed and opens to
the outside when plucked out by a predetermined length.
[0023] The second hole may be blocked by a sticky membrane, and the
sticky membrane may be configured to be opened and closed
repeatedly. An edge of the sticky membrane may be fixed to the top
plate.
[0024] The advantages of the present invention are: (1) the liquid
flow from the container is smooth; and (2) the container is
convenient to be used with a straw.
[0025] Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the
fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the
following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paper pack of a prior
art;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container according to the
present invention;
[0029] FIG. 3 is a close perspective view of holes on a top plate
of a container according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0030] FIG. 4 is a close perspective view of holes on a top plate
of a container according to another embodiment of the
invention;
[0031] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG.
3;
[0032] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a plug for a second hole
according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0033] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 4;
and
[0034] FIG. 8 is a side plan view of a container according to
another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0035] An aspect of the invention provides a container 100 for
storing and suckling liquid.
[0036] The container 100 comprises a vessel 10, a top plate 20, a
first hole 30, and one or more second holes 40.
[0037] The vessel 10 is configured to store liquid, and comprises
an open top portion and a closed bottom portion.
[0038] The top plate 20 is configured to close and seal the open
top portion of the vessel 10.
[0039] The first hole 30 is provided on the top plate 20. The first
hole 30 comprises a first open state and a second close state, and
the first hole 30 is configured to allow the liquid to flow through
the first hole 30 in the first open state. The first hole 30 is
configured to keep the liquid from leaking through the first hole
30 in the second close state.
[0040] The one or more second holes 40 are provided on the top
plate 20, each of the one or more second holes 40 comprises a first
open state and a second close state. When at least one of the one
more second holes 40 is in the first open state the opened second
hole 40 is configured to allow air traffics between inside and
outside of the container 100, and when all of the one or more
second holes 40 are in the second close state the second holes 40
block flowing of the air through the second holes 40.
[0041] At least one of the one or more second holes 40 allows air
flow through the second hole 40 so as to equalize air pressure of
the inside and outside of the container 100 when the liquid flows
through the first hole 30.
[0042] The top plate 20 may be integrated with the vessel 10 to
form a monolith except for the holes 30, 40.
[0043] The first hole 30 may be covered by a pokable membrane. The
pokable membrane may be configured to be broken by poking with a
straw 90, and the size of the first hole 30 may be determined by
the size of the straw 90.
[0044] The first hole 30 may be substantially circular in
cross-section just as the shape of the straw 90. In certain
embodiments, the shape of the first hole 30 does not correspond to
the shape of the straw 90.
[0045] At least one of the one or more second holes 40 may be
covered by a pokable membrane, and the pokable membrane may be
configured to be broken by poking with a straw 90.
[0046] The size of the second hole 40 may be smaller than the size
of the first hole 30. The second hole 40 may be small enough to
keep the liquid from flowing with surface tension of the liquid at
the second hole 40. Still, the small second hole 40 can allow air
to flow in from outside when the liquid inside is sucked out. The
pressure difference pushes out the liquid drop blocking the second
hole 40 and leads in air from the outside.
[0047] In certain embodiments shown in FIG. 6, at least one of the
one or more second holes 40 may be blocked with a plug 50. The plug
52 may be connected to the top plate 20. The plug 52 may be
configured to close the second hole 40 when pushed in and open when
plucked out. The plug 50 may comprise a head 52 and a stem 54
extended from the head 52, and the stem 54 may comprise a leaking
hole 56 leading from a bottom of the stem 54 to a side wall of the
stem 54 such that the leaking hole 56 is exposed and opens to the
outside when plucked out by a predetermined length.
[0048] In certain embodiments shown in FIG. 7, the second hole 40
may be blocked by a sticky membrane, and the sticky membrane may be
configured to be opened and closed repeatedly. An edge of the
sticky membrane may be fixed to the top plate 20.
[0049] Another aspect of the invention provides a container which
is not of a shape of box. The container may look like a bloated
envelope or sack as shown in FIG. 8. The air intakes, the second
holes 40, can be provided on a top or middle portion of the
container 100.
[0050] With the air intakes, the container is easily crushed when
discarded after use.
[0051] While the invention has been shown and described with
reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated
by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail,
compositions and operation may be made without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying
claims.
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