COLLAPSIBLE BOTTLE

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is entitled to the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 61/131,844 filed on Jun. 13, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is related to bottles and jars and more particularly a bottle for storing materials having collapsible side-wall structures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional bottles used for food, beverages and chemical materials have a fixed volume and are not capable of conforming to the volume of the partially used material remaining in the bottle. This also means that conventional bottles are typically transported, stored and disposed of in their original full volume. Furthermore, collapsible containers in use to date do not provide a self supporting structure using a flexible material, and thus require a rigid support system to hold the container and material in a stable configuration.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a collapsible bottle the volume of which can be modified to fit the actual volume of the material contained therein. Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible bottle that that is capable of reducing its volume as the volume of material within the bottle decreases. Another objective of the present invention is to reduce the amount of air stored within the collapsible bottle as material is consumed. This allows the final volume of the bottle to be minimized for transportation, storage and disposal. A further object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible bottle from which air can be substantially eliminated for use with products that are easily oxidized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a bottle that collapses within multiple telescoping sections. The number of telescoping sections can be varied depending on the change of volume needed for the product contained. There are at least two sections: a top and bottom section. In a preferred embodiment three telescoping sections are used.

A collapsible bottle according to the present invention is self supporting and has a sliding system that has locks in multiple positions for the full travel of the bottles volume change. This allows the collapsible bottle to be fully self supporting allowing mounting of the bottle, stacking and support on a vertical axis thereby minimizing any dispensing issues. The hard non flexible sectional bottle protects the internal bladder from damage and deters tampering when in use and in transport.

The collapsible bottle uses a sliding track system to maintain alignment of the sliding components consisting of a dovetail shaped joint allowing slide in one axis with rigidity in the other two axes.

The bottle can have any shape required such as elliptical, round or square and still collapse on its vertical axis. The top section of the bottle can have external attachments such as wall mount.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of one embodiment of the invention an expanded state.

FIG. 2 is a perspective front view of one embodiment of the bottle in a collapsed state.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the top section of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a middle section of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a base section of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view looking from the base section (foreground) to the top section showing the dove tail-shaped tracks of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an interior cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the invention showing the dove tail-shaped tracks.

FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the invention showing the variable volume position stops.

FIG. 9 is a close-up interior side view of a top section of one embodiment of the invention showing the dove tail-shaped track.

FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the top section of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is an interior view of the middle section track of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 is an interior cross-sectional view of the bottom section of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 is an interior view of the base section of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14 is an interior cross-section view of the base section of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of the middle section of one embodiment of the invention showing the variable position stop tabs.

FIGS. 16A and 16B are side and perspective cross-sectional views respectively of one embodiment of the invention in a collapsed configuration with a flexible bladder inside.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective front view of one embodiment of the invention, a collapsible bottle (10), in an extended configuration. In FIG. 2, the bottle (10) is shown in a collapsed configuration. In the embodiment shown, the bottle (10) comprises at least three nested sections that are collapsible upon one-another in a telescoping fashion: a top section (12), a middle section (14) and a bottom section (16). Similar sections to the middle section (14) can be added or removed in the construction as required to increase total volume of the bottle along with total change in volume of the bottle when collapsed. The actual size and configuration of the container can be varied for the product in use, but conforms to the basic principle of the design (10) shown in FIG. 1. Some examples of other shapes and cross sectional configurations are round, square and irregular shapes for specific use. FIGS. 1 and 2 also illustrated is a wall mounting clip (18) allowing the mounting of the bottle on a wall or similar surface.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown bottle (10) in a collapsed configuration. The bottle top section (12) of the collapsible bottle includes an integrated threaded spout (20) that receives a twist cap (22—FIG. 16). The cap can be a normal twist cap, a flip lid, a kicker valve or other known types of closures suitable for bottles. There is also included a plastic bladder (24—FIG. 16) connected below the spout (20).

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of the top section (12) of the bottle. Shown at (26) is the dovetail shape that keeps the top (12) and middle (14) sections of the collapsible bottle aligned and gives the bottle rigidity when handled and supported.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a perspective view of a middle section (14). This section has an open bottom (28) and an open top (30) allowing it to fit and mate with the corresponding top (12) and bottom (16) sections while still containing the bladder (24) as illustrated in FIGS. 16A and 16B. This section has a dovetail shaped track (32) and (34) on each side (36) and (38) respectively of the section which allows it to mate in a sliding relationship with the top (12) and bottom (16) sections. Locking tab (40) includes a locking boss that mates with the top section's locking indentations (42—FIG. 3) thus allowing the bottle to be rigid at multiple volumes. This allows handling of an open container without unexpected volume change resulting in a spill.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a perspective view of bottom section (16) comprising an open top (44) and a closed base (46). This section acts as a container for the bladder (24—FIG. 16A) when collapsing the bottle into the configuration shown in FIG. 2. Dovetail-shaped tracks (50) and (48) on the bottom section mate with dovetail tracks (32) and (34) respectively on middle section (14). Locking tabs (52 and 54 on the opposite side of the bottom section) each have a locking boss that mates with the middle section's locking indentations (56 and 58 on FIG. 4) thus allowing the bottle to be rigid at multiple volumes.

Now referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 there is illustrated the manner in which the top section (12) nests over the middle section (14) and the manner in which the middle section (14) nests over the bottom section (16) in a telescoping fashion. Dovetail tracks 26, 34 and 48 are mated in a sliding relationship between the nesting sections 12, 14 and 16. FIG. 7 shows how the collapsible bottle's track system allows for a taper in the walls of the bottle without any issues with jamming due to the parallel dovetail tracks. Locking indentations (42) in top section (12) and (56) in middle section (14) mate with their respective locking bosses (40) on the middle section and (52) on the bottom section (16).

Referring to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, there is illustrated a section side view of the top section (12) and track (42). The final locking indentation (60), unlike the rest of the indentations, has no chamfer and will stop the bottle sections from separating if the user tries to separate the sections intentionally or not.

Referring to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 there are shown sectional side views of the middle section (14). FIG. 11 illustrates the track (56) of the middle section and final travel locking indentation (66). This final indentation unlike the rest of the indentations has no chamfer and will stop the bottle sections from separating this is the same principle as the top sections final travel indentation.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 34, sectional side views of the bottom section (16) are shown. FIG. 13 shows locking tab 52 which permits flexure as it travels along track 56 of the middle section when the bottle is being collapsed as pressure is applied by the user but still allows the bottle to be stable when sitting or in transit. The middle section uses the same principle for its locking tab 40.

Referring now to FIG. 15, there is shown middle section (14). The locking tab 40 and 41 are shown. Tab 40 has a locking boss (70) which travels along the track indentations. Tab (41) will have locking boss (72) (not shown) which will also travel along the track indentations. Other locking tabs on other sections will have similar boss members. Locking boss (70) meshes with the track (42) of the top section (12). The locking labs will flex as the locking boss enters and leaves the indentations in the track. This allows the bottle to collapse when pressure is applied by the user while still allowing it to he stable when sitting or in transit.

Referring to FIGS. 16A and 16B there is shown a flexible plastic bladder (24) inside the bottle assembly to contain food, beverages, and other fluids or materials. The plastic bladder is uniformly thick and sealed to the top section (12) under and around the spout (20) and the bottom section (16) around the center. When the bottle is folly extended, the bladder fully fills the inside contour of the bottle assembly. As the bottle begins collapsing, the bladder begins folding on itself (assuming enough pressure has been evacuated, e.g., pouring out some contents, or relieving the gas pressure). When the bottle is fully collapsed, the bladder is substantially folded on itself, thus reducing its volume. The locking bosses and indentations would keep the collapsible bottle in place.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the present invention. Various modifications or alterations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous modifications and alterations which although not expressly described herein, embody the principles of the invention and are thus within the spirit and scope of the invention.