WASTE REDUCING CONTAINER

Abstract

A container employs a reusable frame that folds into a compact profile that can be stacked for efficient handling between uses, thus greatly reducing waste that would otherwise end up in landfills. The container has external dimensions emulating those of existing single-use containers, including those designed to accommodate pliable plastic pouch liners for transport and dispensing of material. The container includes a front side having a 17.5 radius cutout to accept a 35 mm fitment of a standard pliable plastic pouch liner, and includes a sliding door which captures and holds the liner fast in place. The container includes a top side having a hinged, latching door with one or more hinges to allow insertion and removal of a pliable plastic pouch. A latching, sliding door allowing access to a dispensing nipple of a contained pliable plastic pouch when inserted into the container.

Claims

1. An apparatus for holding a material, comprising a container having six sides, said container creating a reusable frame that folds into a compact profile that can be stacked for efficient handling between uses.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said container has external dimensions emulating those of existing single-use containers, including those designed to accommodate pliable plastic pouch liners for transport and dispensing of material.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said container includes a front side having a 17.5 mm radius cutout to accept a 35 mm fitment of a standard pliable plastic pouch liner, and said container includes a sliding door which captures and holds the liner fast in place.

4. The apparatus according to of claim 2, wherein said container includes a top side having a hinged, latching door with one or more hinges to allow insertion and removal of a pliable plastic pouch.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said one or more hinges are easily replaceable and of stainless-steel material.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the front side incorporates a latching, sliding door allowing access to a dispensing nipple of a contained pliable plastic pouch when inserted into the container.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the front side incorporates a cutout of dimension designed to accommodate a dispensing nipple of a contained pliable plastic pouch when inserted into the container.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said container has one or more sides, said one or more sides are hinged to allow said one or more sides to fold inward to collapse said container into a compact profile for storage and transportation.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the one or more hinges are easily replaceable and of stainless steel material.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the container includes a folded configuration, in which configuration said container can be stacked for storage and transportation along with a plurality of other similar containers.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container can be used multiple times.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises recycled plastic.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises recyclable plastic.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises metal.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises wood.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises pressed fiber.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises ceramic material.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises woven mesh or fabric.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises a pliable film sheet.

20. A shipping container for transporting liquids or gases comprising: a foldable frame having one or more hinged sides, said one or more hinged sides are hinged to allow said one or more hinged sides to fold inward to collapse said frame into a compact profile for storage and transportation; a plastic pouch for holding a liquid or gas, which is insertable into the frame when unfolded, said pouch including a predetermined fitment and a dispensing nipple; said foldable frame includes a front side having a predetermined radius cutout to accept the predetermined fitment of the plastic pouch; and said front side includes a sliding door which captures and holds the pouch fast in place when in a down and locked position, and said sliding door allowing access to the dispensing nipple of the pouch when inserted into the frame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

[0023] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an Eco-Box in its non-collapsed, filled state with the sliding door in the down position.

[0024] FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the container, illustrating the sliding door having been raised vertically to permit access to the dispensing portion of the flexible liquid dispenser container.

[0025] FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the container, illustrating the sliding door securely engaging the dispensing portion of the flexible liquid dispenser container.

[0026] FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the container, illustrating the top side of the Eco-Box being open and the sliding door being raised for removal of an empty flexible liquid dispenser container.

[0027] FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the container, illustrating the empty flexible liquid dispenser container having been removed.

[0028] FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the container, illustrating the top side being closed and the front side in the process of collapsing to the top side

[0029] FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the container, illustrating the front and rear sides having folded on to the top side, and the left side and right side collapsing towards each other.

[0030] FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the container, illustrating the collapsible reusable Eco-Box container in its collapsed state, ready to be transported and refilled with a full flexible liquid dispenser container.

[0031] FIG. 9 is an elevation view of an Eco-Box showing the exterior dimensions of Preferred Embodiment and dimensions of the nominal 17.5 mm radius nearly-semicircular cutout designed to accommodate the 35 mm nominal diameter of the fitment at the base of the pliable pouch, which terminates in the dispensing nipple.

[0032] FIG. 10 is a close-up photograph of the 35 mm diameter fitment 210 of a standard pliable plastic liner 200 captured between the 17.5 mm radius cutout of the front side 110 and the lowered sliding door 111.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1-10 container 100, which comprises six sides, (top 120, bottom 160, front 110, rear 130, left side 140 and right side 150). The front side 110 includes a sliding door 111 providing protected access to the internal pliable plastic pouch 200 and its fitment 210 which holds the dispensing nipple. The top side includes a large door 120 providing protected access for inserting and removing the internal pouch. The front side 110 and rear side 130 are hinged at their edges to allow them to fold inward into the cavity of the top side 120. The left side 140 and right side 150 are hinged near their horizontal centerlines to allow the container 100 to easily collapse or fold inward.

[0034] As best shown in FIGS. 1-9 of the drawings, the present invention's external frame is a rectangular box. It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that container 100 may have various shapes such as cylinders, cubes, and other polygonal prisms. The container 100 in the example of the preferred embodiment is a right rectangular prism; however, it can be appreciated that the container 100 can have various other shapes including curved shapes. The container 100 may be solid in structure or may be comprised of a hollow structure.

[0035] It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the container 100 may have various cross sectional shapes such as circular, square, oval, rectangular and other well-known shapes. The container 100 is preferably straight having a single axis and a center point. However, it can be appreciated that the container 100 can have various other shapes including curved shapes.

[0036] The container 100 is preferably comprised of plastic. It can be appreciated that the container 100 may be comprised of any common material such as metal, wood, ceramic, or composite material, and incorporate woven material or pliable film.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 1-8 of the drawings, the container 100, which includes six sides (top 120, bottom 160, front 110, rear 130, left side 140 and right side 150). The front side 110 includes a sliding door 111 providing protected access to the internal pliable plastic pouch 200 and its dispensing nipple 210. The top side 120 includes a large door providing protected access for inserting and removing the internal pouch.

[0038] To contain a pouch filled with a fluid, the full pouch 220 is inserted via the large door in the top side 120, as depicted in FIG. 4, such that the pouch's fitment 210 which includes the dispensing nipple is positioned behind the front side 110. The fitment 210 is inserted into the nearly semi-circular cutout near the bottom center of the front side 110 such that the fitment's smallest outside diameter nests in the cutout between the flange that connects the fitment to the pouch and the fitment's next flange axially outward from the pouch, thus capturing the fitment axially and laterally. Then the sliding door 111 is lowered to capture the fitment 210 vertically

[0039] The front side 110 and rear side 130 are hinged at their edges to allow them to fold inward into the cavity of the top side 120. The left side 140 and right side 150 are hinged near their horizontal centerlines to allow the container 100 to easily collapse or fold inward. This folding is accomplished, as depicted in FIG. 6, by folding the front side 110 and rear side 130 inward and upward into the top side 120, then, as depicted in FIG. 7, folding the left side 140 and right side 150 inward at the hinges near their horizontal centerlines, causing the top side 120 top collapse downward onto the bottom side 160, achieving a much smaller profile for storage and shipment between uses.

[0040] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description.

[0041] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0042] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.