Abstract
A collapsible, reusable drinking container is provided having a first opening suitable for pouring and filling, a second opening for accessing the interior of the container for cleaning, and a flexible straw for drinking the contents while the container is held in an upright position. The first opening is reversibly sealed with a cap, the second opening with an interlocking ridge and groove fastener, and the straw is reversibly sealed using a plug, a cap, a push-pull cap, a reversibly discontinuous portion of the straw, or an element for reversibly kinking the straw. The straw is attached to the container wall, to the cap for sealing the first opening, or to the fastener for sealing the second opening.
Claims
1. A container comprising: a container wall defining a volume; wherein said container wall comprises a top surface and a side; an opening into said volume.
2. A container according to claim 1 further comprising a cap configured to seal said opening.
3. A container according to claim 2 further comprising an interlocking ridge and groove fastener configured to seal said top surface and said side.
4. A container according to claim 3 further comprising a straw defining a passageway into said volume.
5. A container according to claim 4, wherein said straw further comprises an attachment into said container wall.
6. A container according to claim 1 wherein said container reversibly occupies a collapsed configuration defining a first volume and an expanded configuration defining a second volume, and wherein said second volume is greater than said first volume.
7. A container according to claim 4, wherein said straw comprises a ridge and groove element configured to mate with said interlocking ridge and groove fastener.
8. A container according to claim 5, wherein said straw further comprises a straw opening at a bottom of said straw, and wherein said straw opening is located at a bottom of said volume when said container is in an upright position.
9. A container comprising: a container wall defining a volume; wherein said container wall comprises a first side and a second side; an interlocking ridge and groove fastener configured to seal said first side and said second side.
10. A container according to claim 9 further comprising an opening into said volume.
11. A container according to claim 10 further comprising a cap configured to seal said opening.
12. A container according to claim 11 further comprising a straw defining a passageway into said volume.
13. A container according to claim 12, wherein said straw further comprises an attachment into said container wall.
14. A container according to claim 13 wherein said container reversibly occupies a collapsed configuration defining a first volume and an expanded configuration defining a second volume, and wherein said second volume is greater than said first volume.
15. A container according to claim 14, wherein said straw further comprises a top and a bottom, and wherein said top and bottom are generally in a same plane when said container is in said expanded configuration, and wherein said top and bottom are generally parallel when said container is in said collapsed configuration.
16. A container according to claim 15, further comprising at least one fold line in said container wall.
17. A container comprising: a container wall defining a volume; said container wall comprising a removably affixable area; an interlocking ridge and groove fastener configured to seal said removably affixable area; an opening into said volume; a cap configured to seal said opening; a straw defining a passageway into said volume.
18. A container according to claim 17, wherein said straw further comprises an attachment into said container wall.
19. A container according to claim 18, wherein said straw is attached to said container wall using an element selected from said group consisting of: a direct attachment to said container wall, a grommet in said container wall, a portion of said straw formed as an integral part of said cap, and a ridge and groove element attached to said straw configured to mate with said fastener.
20. A container according to claim 17, wherein said element is a grommet, and wherein said grommet further comprises a one-way valve configured to allow air into said container.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of the current invention.
[0024] FIG. 2 depicts a cutaway view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. FIGS. 2A and 2B are detail views of FIG. 2 showing alternative attachments of the straw to the container wall having the second opening unsealed.
[0025] FIG. 3 depicts a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in an alternate position.
[0026] FIG. 4 depicts the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in an alternate position. FIGS. 4A-4E show changes in geometry of sections of the container wall and straw as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 adopts the position shown in FIG. 4.
[0027] FIG. 5 depicts a top view of embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in the alternative position shown in FIG. 3.
[0028] FIG. 6 depicts an alternate configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
[0029] FIG. 7 depicts a section view of the configuration shown in FIG. 7.
[0030] FIG. 8 depicts the configuration of FIG. 7 in an alternate position, namely its collapsed form. FIGS. 8A and 8B depict the configuration of FIG. 7 in additional alternate positions.
[0031] FIG. 9 depicts a top view of the configuration of FIG. 7.
[0032] FIG. 10 depicts a top view of the configuration of FIG. 7 in an alternate position, namely its collapsed form.
[0033] FIG. 11 depicts an alternate configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
[0034] FIG. 12 depicts a section view of the configuration shown in FIG. 12.
[0035] FIG. 13 depicts a top view of the configuration shown in FIG. 12.
[0036] FIG. 14 depicts a side view of the configuration shown in FIG. 12 in an alternate position, namely its collapsed form.
[0037] FIG. 15 depicts a back view of the configuration and position shown in FIG. 14.
[0038] FIGS. 16A-6H depict alternative straw sealing elements for use with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
[0039] FIG. 17 depicts the upper portion of an alternate configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
[0040] FIG. 18 is a top view of the configuration shown in FIG. 17.
[0041] FIG. 19 is a view of the straw depicted in FIG. 17.
[0042] FIG. 20 is a section view of the straw depicted in FIG. 19.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0043] Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a collapsible container constructed in accordance with the present invention, while FIG. 2 depicts a cutaway view showing the interior elements of the same embodiment. The container is formed from a container wall (10) which surrounds and defines the volume contained. In this embodiment, the container wall is flexible, and the volume of the container can be reversibly reduced by collapsing the container, as shown in FIG. 4. Although many containers are frequently collapsed for disposal, including tin cans and glass bottles, for the purposes of this application, a “collapsible container” is one having a volume that is intended to be reversibly reduced during normal use by alternately collapsing and expanding the container. Therefore, a collapsible container reversibly occupies at least a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. This is distinguished further in the current invention from containers that are intended to be irreversibly collapsed once either as the contents are dispensed or after the container is emptied, and then discarded.
[0044] In its collapsed configuration, both the volume occupied by the collapsible container and the interior volume defined by the container are reduced compared to the volume occupied and defined by the container in its expanded configuration. Collapsible containers are useful in that they can be reduced to smaller volumes for transport or storage of the container when their maximum volume is not required for transport or storage of the contents of the container, then expanded to store or transport a maximum volume of liquid. Collapsible containers are also useful in that they can be partially collapsed as needed to reduce the amount of headspace over a sub-maximal volume of liquid. This is useful especially for storage of carbonated beverages, in which the amount of carbonation at equilibrium in a sealed container is in part related to the volume of air, known as headspace, over the liquid. Reducing the volume of the container reduces the headspace, resulting in desirably higher levels of carbonation in the beverage. Other liquids such as wines, which may be sensitive to the total amount of oxygen in the headspace of the container, or liquids which have a volatile flavor or odor component that might be lost or diluted in larger volumes of air, can also benefit from a container that can be reduced in total volume as the volume of liquid content is decreased.
[0045] Collapsing the container alters the orientation and position of some sections of the container wall with respect to other sections of the container wall. As can be seen in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C, in this exemplary embodiment, a first section (200) of container wall lying substantially along a first axis (290) and a second section (210) of the container wall lying substantially along a second axis (300) can be considered. When the container is in its expanded configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 4A, the first and second axes are oriented to be substantially co-linear, having an angle of intersection (230) at or near 180°. When the container is in the collapsed configuration shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 4C, the orientation has changed such that the angle of intersection (230) between the first and second axes is acute, and approaches zero as the container is completely collapsed and the first and second sections make contact. Both reversible changes in orientation and reversible changes in distance between two sections of container wall can be characteristic of a collapsible container. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, remote sections of container wall on opposite sides of the container in the expanded configuration shown in FIG. 7 are brought into contact with each other in the collapsed configuration shown in FIG. 8 without substantial alteration in the angle between their axes.
[0046] In some embodiments, a fold line (220) is provided in the container wall to guide the geometry of collapse of the container. In some embodiments, the fold line is a weak point scored into the wall to add flexibility specifically to that portion of the wall and allow the wall sections adjacent to the fold line to change orientation along the fold. In some embodiments, the fold line is a thicker section or bead added to the wall to stiffen and maintain a specific geometry of the wall, and the thinner, more flexible sections of wall between the fold lines collapse. The geometry and orientation of the fold line can advantageously direct the orientation of the collapse of the container. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the fold line (220) is in the form of a spiral about the perimeter of the container, which allows the container to collapse in a generally axial direction. This advantageously maintains the location of the openings at the top of the volume defined by the container and the internal opening of the straw at the bottom of the volume defined by the container as the container is partially or fully collapsed during use.
[0047] In some embodiments, fold lines are formed during the manufacturing process as a natural result of joining two pieces of material. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, fold lines (220) are located at the sides and around the perimeter of the bottom of the volume, allowing the opposing sides to collapse inwards and the bottom surface to collapse upwards, advantageously maintaining the position of the first and second openings at the top of the container and the internal opening of the straw at the bottom of the container as the volume of the container is reduced. As can be seen in FIGS. 8A and 8B, additional collapse of the container in directions other than those determined by the fold lines are still possible, including folding or rolling the collapsed or at least partially collapsed container.
[0048] The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 further comprises a straw (60). For the purposes of this application, a straw during normal use has sidewalls (190) that define a fluid passageway extending from an internal opening (140) located within the container and below the surface of a liquid to an external opening (130) located outside the container and above the surface of the liquid, through which the liquid can be transported by reducing the pressure at the external opening relative to the internal opening, for example, by sucking on the external end of the straw or by squeezing the container. A straw so defined can be seen as having an interior (with respect to the container) section (70) comprising the internal opening (140) and any portion of the passageway extended from the container wall into the interior volume of the container; an exterior (with respect to the container) section (80) comprising the external opening (130) and any portion of the passageway extended externally from the container wall; and a central section (90) comprising the portion of the passageway connecting the interior and exterior section of the passageway and forming an attachment to the container wall.
[0049] In some embodiments of this invention, the sidewall defining the central section of the straw is attached directly to the walls of the container. Such an attachment seals the straw to the container and prevents the escape of liquid between the sidewalls of the straw and the container wall, as is possible when a conventional straw is placed into a conventional container opening. The attachment between the sidewall of the straw and the container wall can be formed by any method known to the art, including by molding or forming at least the central section of the straw as an integral part of the container wall, by gluing at least the central section of the straw into an opening in the container wall, or by partially melting either the container wall or the sidewall of the central section, or both, to form an attachment in a heat-welding process. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2A, a grommet (100) is provided on the container wall through which the straw can be inserted, the sidewalls of the central section of the straw forming a seal with the walls defining the opening in the grommet. In some embodiments, as exemplified in FIG. 2A, the grommet (100) is configured to act as a one-way valve, allowing air to enter the container around the sidewalls of the straw but preventing the air from escaping. Such a configuration is shown, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,291,331. In other embodiments, a one-way valve (110) is attached to the cap (30) as shown in FIG. 6, or is separately attached to the container wall as shown in FIG. 12. The provision of a one-way valve allows air to enter the container as the liquid contents are removed through the straw, preventing the buildup of a partial vacuum which would reduce the efficiency of the straw. As pressure is reduced inside the container, for example by sucking some of the liquid contents out through the straw, the one-way valve allows air to enter the container and equalize the pressure. If pressure is increased inside the container, however, for example by storage of carbonated beverages, or by squeezing or jarring the container, the one-way valve prevents the expulsion of air or liquid contents through the valve opening in response to the increased pressure. In many embodiments, no one-way valve is provided, and the collapsing of the container walls and subsequent reduction in container volume suffices to relieve the partial vacuum formed by removing the liquid contents.
[0050] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the interior section (70) of the straw is flexible. This flexibility allows the interior section (70) of the straw to conform to the shape of the container as the container is collapsed without reducing the efficiency of the straw. Conventional straight straws, typically made of paper, cardboard, or relatively thin plastic, kink when they are substantially flexed, severely reducing the cross-sectional area of the fluid passageway and restricting the flow of liquid through the straw. In a flexible straw, the distance between two remote sections of the straw can be increased or decreased without substantially altering the cross-sectional area of any part of the passageway between the two sections. In some embodiments, a flexible sidewall is incorporated into the straw by forming corrugations in the sidewall of the straw, creating a bellows section which allows the straw to bend substantially without kinking or significantly reducing the cross sectional area or resistance to flow of the fluid passageway. In other embodiments, the geometry of the straw introduces the necessary flexibility. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a portion of the straw is formed in the shape of a spiral, which can be compressed along the axial length of the spiral. Characteristic of a flexible straw, it can be seen from FIGS. 4D and 4E that a first portion of the straw (250) and a second portion of the straw (260) are at a larger distance (270) when the container is in its expanded position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4D, and at a smaller distance (270) when the container is in its collapsed position as shown in FIG. 4E. The spiral geometry of the straw in this embodiment allows the distance between portions of the straw to decrease without kinking or substantially reducing the cross-sectional area of the straw.
[0051] In still other embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 14-15, a portion of the straw is formed from flexible elastomeric tubing having a wall thickness and stiffness sufficient to maintain a fluid passageway as the container is collapsed and the tubing flexed. Food grade tubing is widely available in a variety of sizes and materials, and a skilled craftsman is able to select the appropriate material based on the configuration of the container and the flex required of the straw to conform to the shape of the collapsed form of the container without kinking.
[0052] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2A, the straw is a single piece of tubing which extends from the internal opening (140) of the fluid passageway, through the container wall (10), to the external opening of the fluid passageway (130). In other embodiments, the interior section (70) of the straw is formed separately and is attached to the central section (90) of the straw in differing embodiments by threaded connections, hose barbs, tubular projections providing a friction fit for the tubing, adhesives, or heat-welding. In other embodiments, the exterior section (80) of the straw is formed separately and attached to the central section (90) of the straw in differing embodiments by threaded connections, hose barbs, tubular projections providing a friction fit for the tubing, adhesives, and heat-welding. In further embodiments, such as that shown in FIG. 2B, both the interior section (70) and the exterior section (80) of the straw are formed separately from the central section (90), and are each attached to the central section of the straw. In the configuration shown in FIGS. 6-10, the central section (90) of the straw is formed as an integral part of the container wall from near the top of the container to near the bottom of the container, leaving only the internal opening (140) as the interior section of the straw.
[0053] It has been found that, for drinking from a container held in an upright position, it is most advantageous that the internal opening of the straw be at or near the bottom of the volume defined by the container, at least in its expanded configuration. This allows retrieval of the maximal amount of volume without resorting to tilting or overturning the container. Contrariwise, it is advantageous that the external opening of the straw be above the volume defined by the container, to avoid the siphoning or splashing out of the contents which could occur if the liquid inside the container rose to a level higher than the external opening of the straw.
[0054] The invention further comprises a first opening (20) configured for filling or dispensing liquids from the container, and a second opening (40) configured for fully accessing the interior of the container, each opening being provided with an element for reversibly sealing the opening. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the first opening is reversibly sealed with a removable cap (30). In other embodiments, the first opening is reversibly sealed with a flip-top cap. In some embodiments, the first opening is provided as a separately manufactured spout (150) having preformed external threads, the spout being attached to the container wall using, for example, adhesives or heat welding. The first opening is sealed with a removable cap (30) having internal threads mating with the external threads on the spout. In other embodiments, a spout defining the first opening is formed as an integral part of the container wall.
[0055] An interlocking ridge and groove fastener (50) is surprisingly effective for providing a reversible seal for the second opening (40). These fasteners are commonly known as “ziplock” fasteners, a word that has now entered at least the Merriam-Webster online dictionary as meaning “having an interlocking groove and ridge that form a tight seal when pressed together”. Such seals are commonly featured in the bags sold under the ZIPLOC® brand family by S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc., and the manufacture of such seals and of flexible containers provided with such seals are well within the competence of a skilled practitioner of the art. A variety of ridge and groove designs are commercially available, and designs can be selected to provide a reliable air-tight and water-tight seal that can be easily unsealed for cleaning and resealed for transport and storage. The use of an interlocking ridge and groove fastener permits the manufacture of larger sealable openings without the manufacturing difficulties, materials constraints, tight tolerances, and rigidity associated with traditional large bottle openings.
[0056] Although the first and second openings are reversibly sealed, to prevent accidental release of the contents due to seal failure or misuse, it is advantageous in many embodiments to locate both the first and second openings at or near the top of the container when the container is upright and in the expanded configuration. It is advantageous to have a maximal amount of the volume defined by the container in the expanded configuration located between the internal opening of the straw, located at or near the bottom of the container, and the lowest of the first or second openings located at or near the top of the container. This permits convenient ingestion by a user of substantially all of the contents of the container with little risk that any inadequate or improperly applied seal of either the first or second opening will result in significant spillage. In some embodiments, for example the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the container wall has a top surface (12), the interior portion of which defines the top of the volume, and opposite to the top surface, a bottom surface (14), the interior portion of which define the bottom of the volume. In some embodiments the first and second opening are located in the top surface, such that the openings pass through the top surface to enter the volume. This advantageously permits maximal filling of the container while it is in its upright position, without the necessity of tilting the container to increase the fill volume. In some embodiments, the internal opening of the straw is located proximate to the interior portion of the bottom surface. In some embodiments, the straw also passes through the top surface, independent of the first and second openings.
[0057] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 11, the container wall slopes up to the second opening in a top edge of a container without a well-defined top surface, and the first opening is located near the top of the volume. Although these configurations decrease the total fill volume that can be obtained through the first opening in the upright position, they also advantageously reduce manufacturing complexity and cost. In some embodiments, both the first and second openings are located in a top edge of a container.
[0058] The flexibility of the interlocking ridge and groove fastener advantageously allows for a flexible opening provided in a container wall, at least a portion of which is flexible. As shown best in FIGS. 5 and 13, the combination of an interlocking ridge and groove fastener (50) and flexible container walls allows the container to be opened sufficiently to allow access through the second opening (40) to all of the interior surfaces of the container for cleaning, while still providing an easy-to-use and easy-to-manufacture seal to prevent leakage of the container or contamination of the contents. The larger and more flexible nature of such an opening compared to the conventional container opening also permits greater access to the interior of the container for manufacturing purposes, such as attaching the central section of the straw to the container wall, attaching a threaded spout for a first opening or a grommet for a straw seal, or attaching the interior section of the straw to the central section of the straw. The second opening (40) also permits the addition of larger solids such as ice, spoonfuls of sugar, or powdered drink mixtures into the container, very difficult processes for most conventional resealable drinking containers.
[0059] In some embodiments, the straw is provided with an element for reversibly sealing the fluid passageway to prevent the contents of the container from being spilled or contaminated during transport or storage, as shown in FIGS. 16A-G. In some embodiments, the straw sealing element is a removable cap (120). In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 16A, the cap (120) is pressed over the external opening (130) of the straw and pulled to remove, leading to ease of manufacture and use. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 16B, the cap (120) is threaded to fit matching threads on the straw, which produces a more reliable seal. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 16C, the straw sealing element is a removable plug (170) which fits tightly into the external opening. In some embodiments, a cap or plug straw sealing element includes a tether (160) attached to either the straw or the container to prevent loss of the sealing element when the straw is in use.
[0060] In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 6-10 and FIG. 16D, the straw sealing element is a push-pull cap (180) located at the external opening of the straw, advantageously reducing the chance that the sealing element will be lost or will wear to the extent that it will no longer form a reliable seal. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 16E, the straw sealing element is a push-pull cap integrated with the central section of the straw, advantageously allowing the exterior section of the straw to be formed to a more comfortable configuration for mouth contact and reducing the labor involved in adding an additional element to the end of the straw during assembly.
[0061] In other embodiments, the straw sealing element is an element configured to reversibly kink a flexible section of the straw, as exemplified in FIG. 16F. These elements are designed to apply pressure to collapse the fluid passageway when the straw is to be sealed; when the pressure is released, the flexible tubing reverts to its previous form and reopens the fluid passageway.
[0062] In other embodiments, the straw is reversibly sealed by providing a reversibly discontinuous element in the fluid passageway, as exemplified in FIG. 16G and 16H. These elements are designed to separate and seal the ends of two sections of a fluid passageway when the passageway is not in use, and line up the sections to complete the passageway when it is in use.
[0063] In the configuration shown in FIGS. 11-15, the central section of the straw is formed as an integral part of the cap (30) provided for reversibly sealing the first opening. This configuration advantageously permits the straw to be easily removed for cleaning or replacement and reduces the manufacturing complexity of providing an additional element to be sealed to the container wall. In other, separate embodiments, other forms of straw sealing elements such as an element designed to reversibly kink a section of the straw or a reversibly discontinuous element are incorporated into the cap (30) provided for reversibly sealing the first opening to reduce manufacturing cost and complexity.
[0064] In the configuration shown in FIGS. 17-20, the central section (90) of the straw includes a ridge and groove element (240) configured to mate to the interlocking ridge and groove fastener (50) that seals the second opening. This advantageously allows the straw to be sealed within the second opening, reducing manufacturing costs by eliminating the step of directly attaching the straw to the container wall, and permitting easy removal of the straw for cleaning or replacement.
[0065] While the present invention has been particularly described, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will embrace any such alternatives, modifications, and variations as falling within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
