The invention relates generally to a leak-free, container having a piston device that is directed to accomplish a plurality of preferred goals simultaneously. Specifically, the present invention piston device is directed to: elimination or very significant reduction of air inside the containment area of liquids of different viscosity, such us water, milk, oils, creams, pureed foods, chocolate mousse, yogurts, and the like to keep the contents air-free to prevent spoiling. The piston moves towards a suction force to deliver air-free contents. For example, when this airless container is used as a baby bottle, it very significantly reduces gas-creating air during feeding or drinking; and the accomplishment of the foregoing with minimal, user-friendly components. Preferred embodiments also provide the following additional benefits: 100% air free to help prevent gas and gas associated effects from air ingestion; allows user to expel air by pushing the piston from the bottom up; helps retard oxidation to retain nutrients that are lost when the bottle's contents comes in contact with air; and works on suction as opposed to gravity, so the user can feed in any angle. Further, there are included herein unique component features and materials of construction that create leak proof connections and functionality of the present invention devices. The container and piston device work on suction as opposed to gravity, so the user can dispense by a pump or spray or directly suck to ingest the contents in any angle.
The present invention is directed a leak-free, container and piston device—having a container with an elongated shaft having at least one side wall, an open top and an open bottom and having a constant internal cross-section from a top view, the open top having attachment means for securing a fastening collar thereto; a fastening collar being removably attachable to the open top of the elongated shaft and having a central orifice for holding a liquid outlet, wherein the liquid outlet may be a straw, nipple, mechanical or electrical pump or other known pieces that allow the contents of the container to be received by the user through the piece; the fastening collar is situated on the elongated tube open top and the fastening collar is placed over it and fastened to the attachment means of the elongated tube open top, a liquid impermeable seal is established; a piston having top view footprint outer perimeter consistent with the elongated shaft internal cross-section so as to sealably and moveably fit within the open bottom of the elongated shaft. The piston has external sides with a peripheral upper blade and a peripheral lower blade, both the peripheral upper blade and peripheral lower blade have a plurality of peripheral ridges or blades running perpendicular to the elongated shaft elongation direction. The blades reduce the contact surface area as the piston moves.
With this container, a user may place the piston (which acts as an air plug) in position from the bottom of the shaft; fill the shaft with liquid contents; place the fastening collar and securely attach it to the shaft neck; and then push the piston from bottom up to expel extra air so as to eliminate all air inside the shaft, and to provide a dispensing capability wherein said piston shall move upwardly through suction caused by a suction force at said liquid outlet. When the user forms a closed seal onto the liquid outlet and provides a suction force through the liquid outlet, the contents are dispensed freely. Thus, liquid food is dispensed through more than one orifice and only upon suction. The suction strength controls the flow rate. The tip of liquid outlet extends inside user's mouth upon suction just like a mother's breast, for example. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention airless container, the constant internal cross-section of the elongated shaft is circular. In other embodiments, the cross-section could be other than circular, such as oval, square, polygonal or even irregular, in which case, the attachment mechanism could be snap on or other mechanism rather than a screw-on. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention airless container, the liquid outlet includes a central liquid-release orifice and a plurality of non-central liquid-release orifices. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention airless container, the liquid outlet and the liquid outlet fastening collar are removably attachable separate components. In yet other embodiments, the liquid outlet and the liquid outlet fastening collar are permanently attached to one another.
In some preferred embodiments of the present invention airless container, the liquid outlet is a stretchable nipple, straw and the like that will move away from said liquid outlet fastening collar upon suction force of at least twenty five mm Hg. A human being, animal, pump or machine may create suction.
In some preferred embodiments of the present invention airless container, the liquid outlet is selected from the group consisting of silicone, latex, elastomer and combinations thereof. In some preferred embodiments, the liquid outlet lines the inside of the attachment collar so that liquid or contents in the container never touches the material of the collar, e.g., plastic.
In some preferred embodiments of the present invention airless container, the piston external blades are composed of a material that includes a blend of an elastomer, polypropylene and a siloxane.
In some preferred embodiments of the present invention airless container, the piston has at least two external blades that have at least three ridges on each blade.
In some preferred embodiments of the present invention airless container, the shaft includes an elastomeric grip component at its bottom.
In some preferred embodiments of the present invention airless container, the bottle includes: An airless container, which comprises: a) a container elongated shaft having at least one side wall, an open top and an open bottom and having a constant internal cross-section from a top view, the open top having attachment means for securing a liquid outlet piece fastening collar thereto; b) a liquid outlet connected to the open top of the container elongated shaft, the liquid outlet selected from the group consisting of a spout, a push-pull outlet, tube and the like; and c) a piston having top view footprint outer perimeter consistent with the elongated shaft internal cross-section so as to sealably and moveably fit within the open bottom of the elongated shaft, the piston having external sides with a peripheral upper blade and a peripheral lower blade, each of the peripheral upper blade peripheral lower blade having a plurality of peripheral ridges running perpendicular to the elongated shaft elongation direction; wherein a user may place the piston in position from the bottom of the shaft; fill the shaft with liquid food; place the liquid outlet and securely attach it to the shaft; and then push the piston from bottom up to expel extra air so as to eliminate all air inside the shaft, and to provide a feeding capability wherein the piston shall move upwardly through suction caused by a suction force at the liquid outlet.
In some preferred embodiments of the present invention airless container, the liquid outlet is a spout, valve, straw and the like.
In some preferred embodiments of the present invention airless container, the liquid outlet is a polypropylene spout.
In some preferred embodiments of the present invention airless container, the liquid outlet is a push-pull outlet.
For any embodiment of the present invention, other detailed, useful features may be included. These would include pulls inside and/or outside the pistons to enhance ease of removal; and a burping mechanism, such as an air release valve, for the piston to allow initial air between the filled liquid and the piston to escape during initial set up and prior to a user's use (this closes the gap between the liquid and the piston or the liquid and the end opposite the piston to further make the bottle airless during use). Burping valves, also known as air release valves, allow air to escape, but not liquids.
Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the detail description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
Referring now in detail to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, various embodiments of the present invention are shown.
The plunger or piston on the present invention airless container has piston external sides with a peripheral upper blade and a peripheral lower blade, each of the peripheral upper blade and the peripheral lower blade having a plurality of peripheral ridges running perpendicular to the elongated shaft elongation direction, i.e. the piston has two opposing blades that each have multiple ridges. These blades and their ridges move up and down the inside of the bottle main elongated shaft to create a super seal to prevent leakage during use. Further, in most preferred embodiments, the blades are constructed of FDA approved silicone, elastomers, foam or polyurethane. In some preferred embodiments, the blades are constructed of a unique formulated blend of polypropylene materials to be both structural and flexible to create ideal watertight seal and yet slippery enough to easily overcome friction created by seal.
A fastening collar 17 is adapted to fit over and secure a liquid outlet piece 11. The liquid outlet piece has an opening sized to receive the liquid inside of the container. When a seal is formed on the outlet and suction is applied, the liquid will freely dispense from the container. Fastening collar 17 is then fitted on to recessed external area 9. Liquid outlet piece 11 may have an outer rim that is vertical or horizontal. Liquid outlet piece 11 may be a conventional nipple or one that simulates a real woman's breast nipple that enable nipple 13 to stretch and release milk or other liquid when the baby is sucking on it. In this embodiment, the nipple piece 11 and the nipple piece-fastening collar 17 are preferably permanently connected to one another, but alternatively could be removably connectable. An optional protective cap 29 is also shown and is used to protect the nipple when not in use. Liquid outlet piece may be a straw, tube, manual or electric pump or any vessel sized to receive the liquid from the container.
In the present invention, the shaft 1 has a circular circumference having a diameter D1, shown in
Each blade 75, 76 has a plurality of ridges 75a, 75b forming angled grooves running perpendicular to the internal elongated side of the container.
For more flexibility, the ridges may feature an internal design that allows additional expansion and contraction of the top and bottom blade or first and last blade, if more than two blades are used. The internal design features ridges 75c having grooves, as described above on the inside area of the piston between the body 77 and indention 79, as shown in
The upper blade 75 moves in the direction of the arrows shown in
The top side 78 of the piston 21 has a surface that engages or interacts with the contents of the container.
The container may be an elongated shaft or sleeve having a number of sides and number of diameters, if circular. The container may be rigid or flexible. The liquid outlet attaches to the top of the container and suction may be created to move the piston in a direction towards the suction force. The shaft may be made of any functional material, as is the case with all of the shafts described herein. The container has an internal cross section that is constant (except for a small, slightly widened bottom piston entry portion).
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those particular embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
This patent application is a continuation in part application of copending Ser. No. 13/987,849, filed by Priska I. Diaz on Sep. 9, 2013 titled “Lubricious, Sealed, Airless Container”, which itself is a continuation-in-part application of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/815,802, filed by Priska I. Diaz on Mar. 15, 2013 titled “Lubricious, Sealed, Airless Container”, which itself is a continuation-in-part application of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/066,896, filed by Priska I. Diaz on Apr. 28, 2011 titled “Airless Container”, which itself is a continuation-in-part of provisional U.S. application Ser. No. 61/351,190 filed on Jun. 3, 2010 and titled “Baby Nurser”, by Priska I. Diaz, hereby incorporated by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20150307231 A1 | Oct 2015 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61351190 | Jun 2010 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13987849 | Sep 2013 | US |
Child | 14792994 | US | |
Parent | 13815802 | Mar 2013 | US |
Child | 13987849 | US | |
Parent | 13066896 | Apr 2011 | US |
Child | 13815802 | US |