Patent Application
20060182372
Fadal U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,119
This invention relates to collapsible containers having exchangeable liners. Specifically, this invention relates to a new type of multi-shaped collapsible container having an exchangeable liner system, which is less expensive to manufacture, more convenient to operate and seals more reliably than currently available collapsible containers.
There are three classes of liners currently used in lined containers and a fourth class cross referenced in Fadal U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,119. The instant invention seeks to teach a fifth liner class.
The first liner class is referred to herein as simple tube liners. Disposable baby bottle liners are an example of simple tube liners. Simple tube liners are blow molded and then heat sealed, a relatively inexpensive manufacturing process. These liners are employed in one of two ways. First, they may be employed by being stretched over the mouth of their container. This arrangement is depicted in Barr U.S. Pat. No. 3,834,570. Second, they may be employed by being stretched by a component of the container. This arrangement is depicted in Piazze U.S. Pat. No. 2,520,335. Although simple tube liners are inexpensive to manufacture, they require skill to reliably employ and may only assume a tubular shape.
The second liner class is referred to herein as blow molded liners with self supporting rims. These liner types are employed in Playtex baby bottle applications and are taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,365. Like simple tube liners, they are relatively inexpensive to manufacture but may only assume a tubular shape. Unlike simple tube liners, these liners are reliably employed.
The third liner class is referred to herein as multi-shaped two piece liners with threaded closures (Mc liners). Mc liners are employed by commercially available containers such as the MSR Dromedary Bag, Camelbak Hydration System, Liquipak and Hydrocell. These containers unlike the tube liners above may be multi-shaped. Mc liners are manufactured by dye cutting two sheets of plastic. One of the sheets of plastic is then fitted with a threaded closure component and finally heat sealed to the second sheet of plastic forming an open bag. To seal the bag a threaded cap is screwed onto the threaded closure.
Although, Mc lined containers allow the user to enjoy container shapes other than tubes, they have the disadvantage of being more expensive than tube liners to manufacture. The extra expense is passed onto the consumer in several ways. First, the consumer purchases a more expensive container. Second, the consumer must incur the extra expense again when purchasing replacement liners. This extra cost tends to discourage consumers from using the containers as often as they might otherwise, or push them into reusing a potentially contaminated container.
The fourth class of liner is referred to herein as the Fadal liner. It is a multi-shaped two piece liner without a threaded closure. Not having a separate threaded closure reduces the cost of a Fadal liner compared to a Mc liner. However, the Fadal liner has two drawbacks. First, the Fadal liner requires skill to employ reliably. Second, the Fadal liner's seam crosses the seal of its corresponding container. The seam crossing the seal acts as an seal irregularity and consequently predisposes the container to leaks.
The fifth liner class taught herein as the instant invention is a multi-shaped liner with a gasket or Mg liner. Mg liners use a gasket rather than a threaded closure as part of its sealing means. Because gaskets are dye cut rather than injection molded, they are less expensive to manufacture than the threaded closures of Mc liners. As well, unlike the Fadal liner, the gasket of the Mg liner may be easily positioned in its respective container and thus provides a reliable sealing means.
The collapsible container device of the instant invention is comprised of a Mg liner, an outer container and a cap. These components comprise a collapsible container device that is less expensive to produce and maintain than collapsible containers such as the Platypus and Camelbak. The instant invention device may also be manufactured in a variety of shapes unlike the containers using simple tube and blow molded tubes with self supporting rim liners. Finally, the instant invention collapsible container device may be more reliable than Fadal lined containers.
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are:
To provide a collapsible liquid container that is less costly to manufacture.
To provide a collapsible liquid container that is less costly to maintain.
To provide a collapsible liquid container that is more convenient.
To provide a collapsible liquid container that is more sanitary.
To provide a collapsible liquid container that seals more reliably.
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In the proceeding discussion, the case was made for a less costly, more reliable, more convenient and more sanitary multi-shaped collapsible liquid container.
Referring to the figures, wherein the showings therein are for the purpose of illustrating a typical embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the same.
Operations
The figures depicting the instant invention are for the purpose of illustrating a typical embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the same.
Mg liner 5 may be made of relatively thin water tight sheet plastic and therefore in isolation, is susceptible to rupture. However Mg liner 5 is prevented from rupturing once within outer container 45. Outer container 45's dimensions are smaller in every dimension than Mg liner 5. Thus, once inside outer container 45, Mg liner 5 is prevented from over expanding by the dimensional limits and strength of outer container 45.
Only one possible means for positioning gasket 16 on shelf 62 is depicted in the drawings; cut outs 15 and posts 64. Any suitable friction means may be employed including but not limited to, snapping the gasket into place inside open end 61, utilizing a groove engagement, or utilizing a simple friction engagement.
The objects and advantages of this instant invention are to provide a new collapsible liquid container device, which is less expensive to produce and maintain than Mc lined containers, and has a variety of shape possibilities unlike tube liners. The unique features of the instant invention's Mg liner, threaded neck and cap accomplish the objects and advantages described in this application. Therefore the novel instant invention promises to be a successful commercial product
There are multiple features not described previously in this application that merit mention. The instant invention is well suited for practically all markets where liquids are consumed. It has the advantage of being collapsible when stored or shipped, unlike other containers that require just as much space empty as full.
The outer container of my device may have pockets, snaps, rings, buttons, straps, or other like additions aiding the marketing but not changing the scope of the invention. It may double as a storage device for trash or other valuables when empty. It may assume the character of a puppet or stuffed animal.
The instant invention is well suited for storing liquids when sanitation is poor such as poverty stricken areas, remote locations or during emergency situations. The container may be insulated against radiation, conduction or convection either by using a removable insulator between the liner and collapsible bag or by fashioning an insulated liner or collapsible bag directly. The collapsible bag may be made of wicking materials to aid evaporation keeping the contents cooler.
Two liners may be employed at once to create a double liner in which water added to the first liner could be frozen before the second liner was put in place and used.
Furthermore, the instant device may double as a heating pad, gun rest, back brace, or floatation device. It may function as the first soft baby bottle.
The opening of the threaded neck may be sized so as to readily adapt to commercial ice and soda dispensers found in convenient stores and other businesses and residencies.
Various other closures may be substituted for closure 39, including screw type closures associated with Gatorade closures, as well as a host of other commercially available closures such as snap on closures.
Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
