GB2333085A - Portable containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable vessel for containing a sterilising fluid in which items are to be immersed comprises one or more side walls 4 which are normally self supporting but may be collapsed downwards to flatten the vessel. The wall or walls 4 are preferably formed with scores, creases or folds for collapsing in concertina fashion and portions of the walls may be deformed to provide struts for holding the vessel expanded, or bracing members may be fitted for this purpose. The wall or walls 4 may be formed by horizontally extending inflatable tubular chambers 16 and upright chambers 20 may be provided for inflation to hold the vessel erect. A lid 6 is preferably provided.

Description

Portable Container The present invention relates to a portable container in which a baby's bottle and/or other small items may be immersed in a sterilising fluid.

Prior to bottle-feeding a baby it is common practice to sterilise the baby's bottle as well as teats, spatulas and other items used in the preparation of the feed.

A most effective method for sterilising a baby's bottle is to immerse the bottle in a sterilising fluid. A suitable vessel is therefore required in which to contain the sterilising fluid. A number of arrangements have been disclosed for this purpose, however such arrangements are generally of relatively substantial size and therefore inconvenient to store and to transport.

I have now devised an arrangement which overcomes the limitations of existing sterilising vessels.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a portable vessel for containing a sterilising fluid and arranged to receive one or more small items so that the or each item is immersed in the sterilising fluid, the vessel comprising one or more side-walls which are normally self supporting, but which may be collapsed downwards to flatten the vessel for storage or transportation.

Preferably the or each side-wall is concertina'd, or otherwise formed with one or more scores, creases or folds, so that it may be compressed to flatten the vessel.

In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the or each side-wall comprises folded sheet material. In this case, the vessel is preferably maintained in its normally expanded state by deforming one or more portions of the or each side-wall to provide respective struts.

Preferably the or each side-wall is formed with one or more scores, creases or folds to facilitate the deformation of said one or more portions. Alternatively, the vessel may be maintained in its normally expanded state by fitting one or more bracing members to the or each side-wall.

In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the or each side-wall comprises a plurality of inflatable tubular chambers. The plurality of inflatable chambers preferably comprises a plurality of chambers which extend horizontally, one on top of the other. Preferably the vessel comprises a plurality of toroidal chambers which together form a cylindrical side-wall.

The plurality of inflatable chambers may also or otherwise comprise a plurality of chambers which extend substantially vertically. Each chamber, when inflated, provides a respective strut for maintaining the vessel in its normally expanded state.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of portable vessel according to the present invention, shown in its expanded state; Figure 2 is a top view of the vessel as arranged in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view of the vessel of Figure 1 in its collapsed state; Figure 4 is a top view of the vessel as arranged in Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of portable vessel according to the present invention, shown in its expanded state.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, a portable sterilising vessel is shown comprising a rigid base 2, a cylindrical, concertina'd side-wall 4 formed from stiff, folded sheet material, and a lid 6 formed with a tab 8, the lid being removably fitted to the open top of the vessel.

When the vessel is expanded longitudinally, respective portions 10 of each of the projecting ribs 12 may. be deformed inwards, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, to form. a plurality of creases 14, each of which extends vertically along the sidewall 4 of the vessel and acts as a strut to maintain the vessel in its expanded state.

By exerting pressure longitudinally through the expanded vessel, the creases 14 formed in its side wall 4 may be caused to buckle, thereby allowing the vessel to collapse downwards, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, to flatten the vessel for storage or transportation.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 5, the cylindrical side-wall 4 of which comprises a plurality of toroidal, inflatable chambers 16.

A plurality of vertically aligned inflatable chambers 20 provide additional support for the side-wall of the vessel.

It will be appreciated that in this embodiment, the vessel is expanded and collapsed by respectively inflating or deflating the chambers 16 and 20 via a valve 18.

Whilst the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5 comprises a combination of both horizontally and vertically extending inflatable chambers, it would remain in accordance with the present invention for the vessel to comprise only vertically aligned chambers which may be interconnected by portions of sheet material.

The vessels which have been described are quickly and easily expanded and collapsed to provide convenient, portable means for containing a sterilising fluid for sterilising a baby's bottle and or other items.

Claims (12)

1. Claims 1) A portable vessel for containing a sterilising fluid and arranged to receive one or more small items so that the or each item is immersed in the sterilising fluid, the vessel comprising one or more side-walls which are normally self supporting, but which may be collapsed downwards to flatten the vessel for storage or transportation.
2. 2) A portable vessel as Claimed in Claim 1, wherein the or each side-wall is concertina'd, or otherwise formed with one or more scores, creases or folds, so that it may be compressed to flatten the vessel.
3. 3) A portable vessel as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the or each side-wall comprises folded sheet material.
4. 4l A portable vessel as claimed in Claim 3, which is maintained in its normally expanded state by deforming one or more portions of the or each side-wall to provide respective struts.
5. 5) A portable vessel as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the or each side-wall is formed with one or more scores, creases or folds to facilitate the deformation of said one or more portions.
6. 6) A portable vessel as claimed in Claim 3, which is maintained in its normally expanded state by fitting one or more bracing members to the or each side-wall.
7. 7) A portable vessel as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the or each side-wall comprises a plurality of inflatable tubular chambers which extend horizontally, one on top of the other.
8. 8) A portable vessel as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the plurality of horizontally extending chambers comprise toroidal chambers which together form a cylindrical side-wall for the vessel.
9. 9) A portable vessel as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each side-wall comprises a plurality of inflatable tubular chambers each of which extends substantially vertically to provide a respective strut for maintaining the vessel in its normally expanded state.
10. 10) A portable vessel as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a rigid base.
11. 11) A portable vessel as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a lid for closing the vessel.
12. 12) A portable vessel substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.