GB2276310A

GB2276310A - Collapsible container

Info

Publication number: GB2276310A
Application number: GB9405866A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Guenter Merten
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-03-25
Filing date: 1994-03-24
Publication date: 1994-09-28
Also published as: FR2703026A1; GB9405866D0; DE9304529U1

Abstract

A collapsible container comprises a base plate (2) of stable shape and a flexible bag (4) connected to it at its base (3). An upper stiffening ring (5) matched to the circumferential shape of the base plate (2), is supported by means of several lateral supports (6) at a distance from the base plate (2), with the side walls of the flexible bag (4) opened out. <IMAGE>

Description

COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER The invention relates to a collapsible container which is watertight and which can, when folded up, also be accommodated in a space-saving manner when travelling.

Such containers can, for example, be useful for the care of dentures when travelling. Most of the common tumblers are unsuitable for this purpose.

In addition to the base section with proud edge, a collapsible drinking cup that is already known comprises a number of individual, slightly conical interlocking rings, whose diameters are gradated in such a way that when the cup is assembled, the larger ring in each case rests on the outer periphery of the next smaller adjoining ring, as far as the edge of the base section. As the rings are loosely interlocking there is insufficient leak-tightness.

Furthermore, such containers collapse easily and are not therefore suitable for standing for long periods with liquid in them.

The object of the invention is to create a convenient, inexpensive and liquid-tight collapsible container that can be assembled so as to be stable of shape and which can be folded up again in a simple manner after use and is thus space-saving and suitable for travel purposes.

This object is achieved according to the invention by means of a collapsible container which comprises a base plate of stable shape and connected to it at its bottom, a flexible bag with an upper stiffening ring matched to the circumferential shape of the base plate, which can be supported by means of several lateral supports at a distance from the base plate with the side walls of the flexible bag opened out.

The invention creates a collapsible container that is easy to handle and is liquid-tight so that it can be used for the widest variety of purposes, particularly when travelling. When folded up. a container of this kind is extremely space-saving and can therefore be easily accommodated anywhere in one's luggage.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of a collapsible container of this kind is characterized in Claims 2 to 6. The collapsible container can, however, also be designed according to Claims 7 and 8 or 9 and 10. Preferably the bag is composed of a film of plastics material; or it could be a metal foil.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in diagrammatic form in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a collapsible container when assembled, Fig. 2 shows a top view onto the container of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 shows a section through the container according to 111-111 in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 shows an enlarged partial view through a detail of a container of this kind, Fig. 5 shows a section through the container when folded up, Fig. 6 shows the essential details of a modified second embodiment of a collapsible container before assembly, Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of this container when assembled, Fig. 8 shows a partial section through the container of Fig. 7 at the coupling point of a support for the stiffening ring of the container, Fig. 9 shows a vertical partial section through this container in the area of a support f or the upper stiffening ring of the container with the foil bag opened out and before the stiffening ring is pressed down onto the folding supports, Fig. 10 shows a further modified embodiment of a collapsible container with lateral supports for the stiffening ring and Fig. 11 shows a vertical partial section through this container according to XI-XI of Fig. 10.

In all the embodiments illustrated, the collapsible container 1 comprises a base plate 2 of stable shape and a flexible bag 4 connected to it at its base 3, with an upper stiffening ring 5 which is matched to the circumferential shape of the base plate 2 and which, in the assembled state, is supported by several lateral supports 6 at a distance from the base plate 2 with the side walls of the flexible bag 4 opened out. The bag 4 is preferably composed of a film of plastics material.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5 the supports 6 can be connected to the upper stiffening ring 5 or the base plate 2 and in the assembled state they latch into mountings on the base plate 2 or on the stiffening ring 5, in order to give the container 1 the necessary stability.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the supports 6 are arranged on the stiffening ring 5. They are in the form of supporting yokes, which are approximately V or U-shaped and are designed as one piece with or firmly connected to the upper stiffening ring 5 at both ends of their V or U-legs.

Round the base 3 of the flexible bag 4 the base plate 2 of the container 1 has a circular groove 7, intermittently interrupted if required, for the latching of the foot ends 8 of the flexible supports 6. The foot ends 8 of the supports 6 are flattened of f.

Furthermore, the supports 6 rest on the upper stiffening ring 5 under flexible pretension in such a way that they spring radially inwards under the base plate 2 when the container 1 is folded up (Fig. 5).

In the modified second embodiment of a collapsible container 1 shown in Figs. 6 to 9, at least three or four folding supports 6 rise up from the base plate 2 and when the flexible bag 4 is opened out they detachably latch in a lower circular groove 9, which points towards the base plate 2 and is also intermittently interrupted if required, on the upper stiffening ring 5 of the flexible bag 4.

The pivoted supports 6 are pivot-mounted on the base plate 2 on the one hand between lateral bearing cheeks 10 and on the other hand have, adjacent to their pivot bearing axis 11 on the base plate 2 an angled foot part 12 and a support part 13 rising therefrom in such a way that when the flexible bag 4 is opened out, they engage with their free support ends 14 (Fig. 9) in the downwards-facing circular groove 9 or in corresponding recesses on the stiffening ring 5 of the flexible bag 4 and can be folded approximately radially inwards under the base plate 2 after latching out of the groove 9 about the pivot bearing axes 11 on the foot side when the container 1 is folded up (Figs. 6 to 9) Figs. 10 and 11 show a further simplified embodiment of a collapsible container 1. To stabilize the stiffening ring 5, in this case the supports 6 latch with latching elements 14, 15 at the ends into matching latch recesses opposite each other in extension of the supports 6, on the stiffening ring 5 and on the base plate 2. Appropriately they have insert studs and/or T-shaped support feet at the ends.

Claims

1. Collapsible container, characterized in that it comprises a base plate (2) of stable shape and a flexible bag (4) connected to it at its base (3), with an upper stiffening ring (5) matched to the circumferential shape of the base plate (2), which can be supported by means of several lateral supports (6) at a distance from the base plate (2) with the side walls of the flexible bag (4) opened out.

2. Collapsible container according to Claim 1, characterized in that the supports (6) are connected either to the upper stiffening ring (5) or to the base plate (2) and in the assembled state latch into mountings on the base plate (2) or on the stiffening ring (5) and thus give the container (1) the necessary stability.

3. Collapsible container according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the supports (6) are in the form of supporting yokes which are approximately V or U-shaped and are designed as one piece with or firmly connected to the upper stiffening ring (5) at both ends of their V or U-legs.

4. Collapsible container according to Claim 3, characterized in that round the base (3) of the flexible bag (4) the base plate (2) has a circular groove (7), intermittently interrupted if required, for the latching of the foot ends (8) of the flexible supports (6).

5. Collapsible container according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the foot ends (8) of the supports (6) are flattened off.

6. Collapsible container according to one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the supports (6) are under flexible pretension on the upper stiffening ring (5) in such a way that they spring radially inwards under the base plate (2) when the container (1) is folded up.

7. Collapsible container according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least three or four folding supports (6) rise up from the base plate (2), and when the flexible bag (4) is opened out they detachably latch in a circular groove (9), which points towards the base plate (2) and is intermittently interrupted if required, on the upper stiffening ring (5) of the flexible bag (4).

8. Collapsible container according to Claim 7, characterized in that the pivoted supports (6) are pivot-mounted on the base plate (2) on the one hand between lateral bearing cheeks (10) and on the other hand have, adjacent to their pivot bearing axis (11) on the base plate (2) an angled foot part (12) and a support part (13) rising therefrom in such a way that when the flexible bag (4) is opened out, they engage with their free support ends (14) in the downwardsfacing circular groove (9) or in corresponding recesses on the stiffening ring (5) of the flexible bag (4) and can be folded approximately radially inwards under the base plate (2) after latching out of the groove (9) about the pivot bearing axes (11) on the foot side when the container (1) is folded up.

9. Collapsible container according to Claim 1, characterized in that the supports (6) can be latched with latching elements (15) at the ends into matching latch recesses opposite each other in extension of the supports (6) on the stiffening ring (5) and on the base plate (2).

10. Collapsible container according to Claim 9, characterized in that the supports (6) have insert studs and/or T-shaped support feet at the ends.

11. Collapsible container according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the flexible bag (4) is composed of a film of plastics material.