GB2388358A

GB2388358A - A collapsible container for fluent materials

Info

Publication number: GB2388358A
Application number: GB0210349A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roman Stanley Mojsak
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-05-07
Filing date: 2002-05-07
Publication date: 2003-11-12
Also published as: GB0210349D0

Abstract

A collapsible container for fluent materials comprises a body 12 adapted at least in part for movement between a first, working configuration, where internal storage volume of the container 11 is a maximum and a second, compact configuration where internal storage volume of the container 11 is a minimum. The container body 12 includes segments which are connected to one another by hinges, with the body 12 being displaceable about at least one axis A so that in its working configuration, the segments S1,S2,S3 subtend to a maximum angle M about the axis A, and in its compact configuration the segments S1,S2,S3 subtend a minimum angle about the axis A. The container 11 preferably includes an orifice giving access to the interior of the container 11 and first and second retaining means for holding the container 11 in its working configuration and its compact configuration respectively. An air balancing connection may also be provided between the outlet end X and the remote end Y to enable material to be fed into, or out of the container 11 without the creation of an air lock at the remote end Y. The container 11 is preferably formed out of plastics material.

Description

CONTAINER

This invention relates to a container. It is particularly concerned with a container which can be reduced in volume.

Containers are known which having been used can be collapsed to reduce the volume they occupy so enabling them to take up less space in a disposal system. Reducing the volume of waste is significant in many urban environments where the contents of a waste receptacle in a domestic, business or industrial location has to be transferred to a garbage bin located at some distance from the receptacle. This makes most desirable the effective storage of waste in a receptacle. However with known containers the volume reduction involves the virtual destruction of the container as far as its ability to retain fluid or other contents is concerned.

According to the present invention there is provided a container having a body adapted at least in part for movement between a first, working configuration where internal storage volume of the container is a maximum and a second, compact, configuration where the overall volume of the container is a minimum characterized in that the body comprises segments connected to one another by hinges, the body section being displaceable about an axis so that with the container in its working configuration each, or the majority, of the hinged segments subtend a maximum angle about the axis; and with the container in its compact configuration each, or the majority, of the hinged sections subtend a minimum angle about the axis.

According to a first preferred version of the present invention at least the body section is an integral structure of plastics material.

According to a second preferred version of the present invention or of the first preferred version thereof the container includes an orifice providing access to the interior of the container.

According to a third preferred version of the present invention or of any preceding preferred version thereof the container includes first means for retaining the container in its first working configuration.

According to a fourth preferred version of the present invention or of any preceding version thereof container the container includes second means for retaining the container in its second working configuration.

According to a fifth preferred version of the present invention or of any preceding preferred version thereof the container includes means linking one region of the interior of the body section to another region, at least when the container is in its working configuration, to limit the generation of pressure differences in the interior of the body arising from displacement of contents.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of a collapsible container for a liquid.

Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively' a front vie and a side view of a first embodiment in the form of a solid mock up of the container representing the appearance in a fully extended working configuration.

Figures 3 to 6 show a an experimental working model in various configurations of which: Figure 3 is a front view showing the working model in an extended working configuration comparable with that of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a front view showing the working model in a part folded configuration; Figure 5 is a front view showing the working model in a fully folded configuration; and Figure 6 is a side view of the working model in a fully folded configuration. The model of Figures 3 to 6 show a plastics material mounted on what is conveniently termed a skeleton of internal wire members enabling the working model to be readily folded for development purposes. However it is envisaged that for production purposes the use of a separate skeleton in addition to a body will not usually be necessary. Thus the

general appearance of a container is represented by Figures 1 and 2 rather than Figures 3 to 6.

Since the all the Figures are directed to the same overall concept parts similar in form and function are given the same reference regardless of the figure in which they appear. Container 11 is made up of a collapsible segmented bodyl2, an outlet section 13 with a spout 14 and a panel P (Figure 6). In Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6 the spout 14 is shown closed by a removable plug 15. The spout 14 has mounted on it a separate handle 16. The body 12 is completed by means of a panel P. The body 12 is made up of segments (typically segments S1, S2, S3). Segment S1, typical of all, is in the form of a hollow segment with side faces 17, 18 linked by outer crest 19 and linked to adjacent segment S2 by trough 20.

The body 12 of the container 11 is adapted for rotation by folding about axis A between a first, working configuration (as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3) where internal storage volume of the body section 15 is a maximum and a second, compact, configuration (as shown in Figures 5 and 6), where the overall volume of the container 11 is a minimum. Figure 4 shows the container 11 in a transitional configuration between those shown, on he one hand, in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and on the other hand in Figures 5 and 6. In the first working configuration the panel P or some other part of body 12 in the vicinity of the panel can be adapted to provide for engagement between the juxtaposed end segments of the body to maintain the body 12 in its working configuration regardless of the amount retained in the container 11. The body 12 in its working position has an outlet end X in the vicinity of the outlet section 13 remote end Y which is furthest from the outlet section 13 as far as the contents of container 11 are concerned event though the ends are physically juxtaposed.

The body 12 is designed for folding about axis A so that with the container 11 in its working configuration (Figure 1, 2, 3) the side faces of adjacent segments each subtend about their trough a maximum angle about the axis A (typically angle M between segments S1 and S2). With the container 11 in its compact configuration (Figures 5, 6) each, or the majority, of the segments subtend a minimum angle about the axis A. In this example the segmented part of body 12 of the container 11 and the panel P is moulded from a plastics material such as polyethylene. It is envisaged that other materials or combinations of materials can be used including paper or metal. It is further envisaged that the container can be fabricated from materials which are either reusable, readily disposed of or including the ability to be big-degraded.

The container of the present invention can be adapted for use in a large scale process and can include means, for example! for facilitating the positioning, indexing and closure of a container.

It is further envisaged that once the body 12 of the container 11 has been opened to its working position an air balancing connection is provided between the remote end Y and the outlet end X, to enable material to be readily fed into, or out of, the container 11 without the creation of an air lock at the remote end Y. Typically this connection can be provided by means of an outlet plug at the remote end Y or the outlet end X and a complementary socket at the outlet end X or the remote end Y so that on opening the body 12 top its working configuration the outlet plug and socket couple automatically to establish the required air balancing connection. Alternatively the connection can be provided by frangible or cuttable regions provided in the panel P which, when the container is to be opened to its working configuration (as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3) the regions are opened to ensure that when the part of panel P are juxtaposed with outlet section 13 the opened connection regions are in communication.

When the container is in its working configuration means are provided to hold the appropriate part of panel P juxtaposed against the side of outlet section 13 and/or the panel P. This serves to maintain the container in its open, working, configuration and

prevent the container changing shape when in use and for example flopping between its working and some other configuration. Typically the means can take the form of a flexible extending rim projecting from the side of the side of the outlet end Figures 5 and 6 show the container 11 with handle 16 having been pivoted about spout 14 to retain the folded body in its compact configuration. Alternatively means can be provided to hold the container in its open configuration though filling a container will usually serve to maintain the container in its working configuration.

The exemplary embodiment describes a concertina type body 12 rotatable about a single axis A. The body 12 is shown having segments which are simply hinged to one another. The invention however could also be embodied by a body comprising telescoping segments in combination with folding segments. In addition the body can be rotated or otherwise displaced about more than one axis.

The invention provides for a container of any required capacity to be readily manufactured for large scale use using any of a wide range of well established raw materials. The invention further provides a container which can be fabricated and then stored in its compact configuration prior to being filled and displayed for sale or use.

Once emptied the container can be folded down from its working configuration (following cleaning if necessary) to its compact figuration for disposal or for subsequent refuse.

The container can be used for a wide range of liquids from low viscosity such as water or water based liquids up to detergents and oils; powders; and granular material.

Information such as advertising material, trade mark, usage and disposal instructions, decoration and capacity can be displayed on any part of the container.

Claims

1 A container having a body adapted at least in part for movement between a first, working configuration where internal storage volume of the container is a maximum and a second, compact, configuration where the overall volume of the container is a minimum characterized in that the body comprises segments connected to one another by hinges, the body section being displaceable about at least one axis so that with the container in its working configuration each, or the majority, of the hinged segments subtend a maximum angle about the axis; and with the container in its compact configuration each, or the majority, of the hinged sections subtend a minimum angle about the axis.

2 A container as claimed in Claim 1 wherein at least the body section is an

integral structure of plastics material.

3 A container as claimed in Claiml or Claim 2 including an orifice providing access to the interior of the container.

4 A container as claimed in any preceding claim including first means for retaining the container in its first working configuration.

5 A container as claimed in any preceding claim including second means for retaining the container in its second working configuration.

6 A container as claimed in any preceding claim including means linking one region of the interior of the body section to another region, at least when the container is in its working configuration, to limit the generation of pressure differences in the interior of the body arising from displacement of contents.

7 A container as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.