GB2529713A - Container - Google Patents

Abstract

An expandable container 10 with an enclosing wall and an aperture 94. The container has a first, collapsed configuration and second, expanded configuration in which the wall defines a receiving volume. The container is made from a sheet of material folded along fold line 18 to form a base portion (B, fig 2) and an overlying roof portion T. Preferably the fold line defines an edge of the enclosing wall. There may be material 48, 50 on opposite sides of the fold line which is secured to each other, preferably sealingly. Preferably there is material extending from the ends of the fold line, which is secured together to form flaps 44, 46. There may be handles 90, 92 hingedly or foldably attached above the roof portion. The handles may be made from material either side of the fold line which is secured together. The aperture may be located at the end of a tubular neck portion.

Description

I

OESCR PT ON

CONTAIN ER

[he present nvention reates generally to colapsthe conta ners and n parbcular but not exclusively to coUapsible mae ur ne bottles Urine bottles are frequently used n, for examp'e, hospitals and nursing homes for paUents who era a her confined to bed or who are otherwise unabe to use a toUet Dsposable urine boil as a a 1⁄4nown wh oh can be disca dad after use thus Smnating the reuwement to empty clean and sterthse a tradhonaL ondisposahle u me ho tIe.

However, n sp'te of these advanages4 a disposable u ne bo a yp cal akeb up the same amount of storage space as a nonthsposble u ne bottle. It be appreciated that a greater number of dsposable unne bottles will need to e sto ad since they are sing &use on y The greater number of un a bottles vastly ncreases the storage space requ red whch can be problemat c in hospLals and er la envwonnients where storage space may be mited.

In view of the above p ob ems, col apsible urine bot lee have been dave oped, such as those disclosed in US 309901 and US 357953 seth ol these prior art urine bottles are formed from a sheet of cardboard havmg a series of sconngs or fold ines which allow rt to be folded mto an expandeo or collapsed configuration However those known pnor art ur ie bottles compise seams formed from overapp ng peripheral portons o the ca dboa d s eat which are o ued together The gkiS per pheral seams are a potenbal source of leakage, partoularl n the foot portion of the unne bottle { e the poitton remote from the access arerture), where the nrta tends to coect. The prob em s exacerbated if the used unne bottle s retained for some tme befom d sposaL as thee wl be more oppontun'ty for the urine to break down the adhes ye between the facn portans of the cardboard sheet and thereby result n a eak.

It s an object of the present tnJenton to mitgate or avod the prob'ems assocatea with the pnor art n accordance with a fist aspect of the present intention, a container fomied ftom a sheet of mate1& compnses an encLosing waH and an aperture ano s expandab e from a first, coflapsed configuration into a second expanded configuration in whch the enclos ng w defnes a receivng voki e access'be via the aperture, the sheet o reteSt being fo Sd about a fo d hne to form a base porton and an overlyng roof portori of the enclosing wali en oppocite a des of the fed ne ID B folthng I e sheet of natefal about a fold hne, t is not necessary to form a gluod seam, which reduces the Ukehhood of and ncidence of, leakaoe n that rca Preferab y, the base portion and t a roof portion of the sodas rig wall meet along the fold ne Preferably, the base porhon and the roof port on are S coninuous w Ui each other In accodance Wi h a second aspect of the present invention, a conta ne formed corn a & est of m end composes a enclosing waU and an aperture and a expandable from a I rat colapscd configuration into a second expanded confgure on n which the enclosing we S nes a recew ng vo ume accessible vta the apert re, a port on of the sheet of ma er a which fornm the eric oing wall extendir.g conlinuouSy between a base portion and a roof portion thO lying the base porbon the base port on and the roof port on meehng along a fo d inc n the encloshig wa I Again, the provision of a contnuous portion of the endosng well heween a base portion and a roof portion along a fod line avoids tre need Ye -a glued seam and thereby great y reduces the like ihood of, and mcidence of, leakage in that area k4srg kM;se ae rpc?k tc hMh the stand scord asp6cts r th* prete: PreferaJv. he toRi hrv3 detnes an cft of tc-e.dosry waL eriihodi T3ent thc toW In 3 U' e!ptj neN. to Gortae e-a' and tnr fcki he z* ocMed at an ?rlc o te orfla nor tne er b:drnJrd ?Y' c.tnteine. eonie "tj th. aretu s oc2Ltf at tiEi. at ie CE 2 r r ycnso.?:t!:S4 tan& Cr1:pCOSle.ies a 0 by O ci filE.1 Dc tECUC'O h E'GtTh)ther. F4?fb!y!K1'y Tr'' or Qr mcr.t'1Ther fl0t cs{er from Q er::s tne:!d U3 6: fl.tc(Th.ulCflt one mcr:Ei., e te& rnaer :n o:oft SEC:es cf th foL. are 2: re ft eth otrcrto form flap o1ofi Prefera3u, a fao of a fi&D oorf on o!e:uer hoe of the " !n ee red e bodunent a ic I a fh3 ptnt3ofl s McJR'd to he jtr face of U porton hc s'eet rnv c:rnprte iancb rrans. The hancfle means t :om rse a ooped han*ite pal or! an Dreteraty 11.e r an: e mear ocIed 2:\.er te red pcrfio'. Frefemby die ha-ie mtans are h qe:Y ataned 1' :r!WUd U9!X: I ttfl if e. M:'i: UI: u I:.rc.

sen. red together b form ard!e means ra'crab4y t'e / are securec torethr:v rnean of hes ye Tie:;cnt ref cetthc co::rkS p;c& ty cf furtrier foci Put'?raby. * ras.iauflea tuLjr fltJ pt;t::n 4 &du'. ro -ier enly J ca.ei (i!rt3 Of the Atiar A oft. 3hy cA uEthe lob h e fli'r denc a) urady ci pards.

°re*ferahhi con't!ner conprfres ardb:;rd r a p c.ferted erflC.')j:Jpleflt the C -m.;er-3be Ic. mal dnposed ci P. a ccnvsnflcni 1I3:&raor.

e ir b-d. c3n1.aner.fl$EÔ* .mne bc't!e.

3', w?v af exanpk P. speThc. en-tc:jrunt ut n* peven r'er4k:r w rcc e oescuted Mt r&errc to ?-e accom3arv q c:rawnqs V 1i g s i zerspechve k*le1i fron ahov cr -w nboi rn r!t of mat: na U3 c( f*:'ar:e ith the preserd rwenlio, S:0W -r n -<parded ofr! F g. 2 a perspectlve ie from ttow of tre rr e w na U F 1.

Fq 3 a pai ei Hi:34' Lrr.a!a'fq. I s * c os: cc; C F': -4 a k-' rm th:qe oF crdto&d bark frorr 4.h ii Vie rae jnna of rrce and flç. 5; Iron be.ow the c-a tt. rr, Wr cI Fg 4 r:Jjcir& 10 FIS I and 2: s £arried frr a sIm cnraic,aa. ou aich skanpd,he caohoar: bcnk 2 ñü'tbfl Th Hgs. 4 and S. The barIc 2 s ft&d a d gLed t*D form t tcpsd ur na -10' thc''r UI ig. S. rch cr :parde.. W *3: r ired br the e<panded urTh& thc'sn Hc I ar: 2.

tnch cr:rjFbr a rr_&; to use. The makrIa. frcmi ecn me 15 nni ruce1 3FC u:h ha: rev.nz nacrotab. Ic tc d spcsd JE no On:eflU0n& ncer3tor;n,iich one n mcr frnp&wc ncluce die na to 25.a:rhc es&ich ne suffiaer.tL cia theç car he dit.r woed no cceri.)na ar!c.viC9. wi.t'.ot. 5j: hoanv e:' i'j the,ehhood o tdockage5 ite card from which the t:rnl C is:1ruc(ed s aia Ueatec t*2 make it mperJiouz er resskan to rin for a prdermir:ed perioz typica!ly few flours, as th pn'cr 3rt ur nas. Fo-eempe. Inc pp from wic We card s m'ade ma comprise the Juorc'cart.cm ccmround dsd*sed fr GE 2439947. r.d'or!cfhe :fl5 addfflv which renuers::e car un eirv.. such as:raffiri wax alkyl ke!ene o!me, Skerwi ucnc anhydrde. acryli; esters 2nd poivrethne based pc.,'r e Mernaliveh;, or in dcttio", the *:arf nay be preMed with one or morc. qud* resistant or r.rahncs for emole cd 1h fluoocarhcm corr'!ounc thscloced I GB 2.339947. s.mVcf some otHer urne res!s:ant matena such as paraffin wax. rosr. akv ketene dimer, a.kenvi su:ciric anhydrftie. acc esters at polyurethane Dsd As best seen; Fic12. 4 and., We blank 12 comprises upper and *:wr thk k h:vs 14 16 te DortOEm wnft?i Will fort tft $JpJr wall end the lower waU 13 f the;%t'ibieC epanea ur'fla IU) "ha uop;r and oer b'anR hatc 14 16 re hngethy or Ioklabiycc nnect.!d by a IraneJerse!y ex.tndmq stra'qht fddine I & edenufr'g a!on ransvrse axis X'X and formed urir;g stamoir;q and',e externol slur e cf the blank nalves 14, 1 $are mrrn' m'Kes -ach other atout he to' d mc 18.

The upr'er and ewer)rk nalve 4. 16 e oTnec rthD a rkraly o a :.p.cct wrüc.h are u&ined by fold lines fomed durinq stampfrw. ni the I. he lower oanv hal: It. çfl: :lp: a t: aptgada! el 4) 4h;cAl to" a h.se *,siVl 3 of he urinil 10 when exoar:ded ?see Fa 2i, wth ts lo'aer;arael wa formIng part of the transvers&y e>tendinb foc line 15 T'vo trisrgular panels 22: 24, miror images of eath other about a longitudina xs YY extending øerpendcularly ti'rough The centre c' ha old nc iB, abut Ihe eceezve nckned sides of e trapeto dal pa & 20 and form lower side wafl porhons of the urinal 10 when expandS T:io further trapezoidal panels 26, 28, mirror images of each other about axe V V abut the upper edges of he trangu ar panels 22, 24 and are bounded at S thew outermost end bj a further transversely extanthrt fold me 30, whch forms the rner boundary of a re nforcing tab 32, as will he explained Four lu ther fold lines 34 18 38, extend f am the uppe edge of the trapezo dal panel 20, and across ne remforcing tab 32 The fold hnes are approximately parallel to long tudinal axis V V but dverge Sightly Iron, one ano he towa de the ab 32.

The fold line 34, 36, 38, 40 form Vie lowe part of the neck port a 42 of the urinal 10 when expended.

Two fu Lher triangular panels 44: 46 mwror wages of eacn other abou axs V V. abu the respective outer edge of the triangular panels 22 24. As best seen m Fig. 3 the triangular panels are folded on, and glued to the upper face of lb the assembled co apeS urinal 10, as MI be expia'ned.

The nclined lateral edges of the lower b ank ialf 18 are provded w h securing tabs 46, 50. rn rro mages oF eaci other about axis Y-V, extenthng along the whole length of the atral edges and divided into nner eno outer secur rig tab porho a 48a. b and SUe, b by respective fold nes 52 54 extend rig outwardly to the edge of the blank from the nearest apex of a respective U angular panes 22 24 Looped handle portions 56 56, mirror images of each other about axis Y, extend outward y from the edge of the cuter securing tab portions 43b 5Db at folds 62, 64 The handle portions are generaly Cshaped and each defines an open generai y trapezoidal central hole 66, 68 and an elongate flap 70, 2 is hirgedly connected to the n icr;ongituth al edge of the handle portion 56, 58 along fold lne 74 78 The upper blank half 14 has regons correspondrng to each of the panets/rcgons of the lower blank haT 16 and are denoted b the same reference numerals with the add tion of a pnme The main difference is that the pan& corresponding to pane 20 of the lower blank half, has curved sce edges 80 82 The an& 20 forms a top rear wail T of the ur'na 10 when expanded see F g 1;. Consequently, the outer edges of the pares 22'24' wMch correspond to triangular panes 22, 24 of the lower blank half and whch form upper side wa porhons cfthe expanded urinal 10 are a soc red T a o I er canals or egons of the upper bank half 14 correspond wth U a IC aqwva ant regions of the lower blank half 15 and apart Trom the thfferences outhned, the two bank halves 14, 18 are m'rror images of each other about the trans eras axs X-X For example the four fo ci es 34', 36' 38' 40 extenthng from U a upper edge of the panel 20' and cc oss a reinforcing tab 32 form the upper part of the neck portion 42 of the expanoed ur nal and the upper hia. k half 14 is piovided wi Ii looped hand a portions 56' 58 extending outward y from the edge o the outs scunng tab portions 48b. SOb.

As best seen n Fig 5, a layer o' adhesive 88, 86 (shown as sl adS in Fig. 5) is applied to the lower face of the scw ny Lbs 48, 50, 48'. 60', the renforcing abs 32, 32 the handle po ions 55, 58, 58'58' e t:OSe ortions which wi I be concealed in he assembled urral) and the o reinforc ng Vbs 32, 32. It wIt also be observed ha a ayer ci adhes ye 88 (shown as shaded port ens Fg 4) is app S to the triangular panels 44 46 and the secunny tab portions 48. 50 on the outer face of the upper blaik haT 14 A suitable adhesive would be qui&resistant PVCIH cdhesve although other Iqu &resistant adhesives could be used.

In prathce, a urinal 10 is formed by stampmg out a blank 12 and apply'ng coheive to the appropriate regions as descnbed above The securing tabs 32, 32' are then folded about their respectue fold nes 30, 30' so that they contact.

and adhere to the nner face of the respectve blank half 14 16 The bank halves 14, 16 are then lobed onto each other about the fold me 18 taxis X-X so that the layer of adheswe 66 on the corresponthng porfons of the inner face o the upper and lower blank ha yes 14 16 contact each other thereby sealing the two blank halves together aroun ther edges except n the v cinty a the enfarcng tabs 32, whion thereby forms an openmg to the urina. It wl also be observed that the corresponthng handie portions 68 55 and 58 58 adhere to each other to form isud es 90 82 Finay the sec ring a s 5W, 60' are folded over the outer face of the uppe bank half 1$ and ahera thereto, threby further sealing he late al edges of the urinal, and the hangular panels 44, 48 of the lower blank nail 16 are to ded ave in o contact th the layer of adhesive 68 on the correcpond nq panels 44', 46' on the upper bank half 14, thereby fur4ther sealing the corners of the urinal The result of the opei ations described abav s an assembd, coIapswd urlna 10' as shown in Fig 3, 1 e collapsed urinat 10' is gene a ly flat and car be stored very efficiently çcompared with maulded pape pulp ii inals which take sign ficantly more SjQ ume to store) with the bandIes 90, 92 fo ded over each other unti requ red for use When a urinal s required it is a straightfornrd natter to expand a ocllapsed urinal 10? use by pres& g on the opposi e lateral edges 94, 96 of the coapsed urinal, formed by the overlapped fold nes 52, 52, 54 54 rha causes the unnal to expand nto the configuration hon n F gs I and 2, n whirh it is ready for use It will be observed that the fold ines 36 to 40 arid 36' to 40 and the reinfcrc rig tabs 32, 32' form the tubular neck porton define a generally circu ar opening 94 ci the urinal 10. The adhesion of the tabs 2, 32' to the inner face of ihe unr;M øc to k&:p the aperture 74 pen r:d ensiue that ft;ee are; n h24? ecges pecrted t a Ltr. fri acdmcn The bid re t the ur;r'.a? caw;t h r anci r me expEmded confguraIn. t:U aw b observed that the hMds 90. 92 ca" be erped with ach other whkt ac h retainrç S r tntj oer con cn n the &o'tqak fttps 70. 10. 72, 72 of the nndkm 90. 92 can be!r:teriocked Wh one another tü faCAbk1 haflO'W39 &rL1 c a$.s!t fl re3njnP: flC UflflaE hi tN e.<r)rcei cone!t' )n *;..,flfl used fr; the way as Lorerfl'ona! P4ter uve. the uñr:S may re5ted on the se waU B farmed y the tczezida pane 20. ir4h I U $reaciy O d.wosa fl: The reElk;fl hi. po to ptc *f iw foreCnQ ecr3bQdn1r! Fc examthi. afthcuor' the: emnrotumert ded,bed:nd iksuthed s a L4ana'. cdh& eXFJafldM)k cur aflijs COU 1 g39 rtJCtC:(j fl aCC:Ordafl(.& W!U1 TheI :flvc.fl;k:fl. Moreoer. thout the irhndir,ent thscrte1 drc2sah*e (n 3 rtcuhir. m;erabe) t wc:thd be pessibe to make t fran reimabk mter's.

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