WO2008075116A1

WO2008075116A1 - Procedure and a simple vacuum cleaner pipe piece for minimising the size of disposable plastic bottle waste

Info

Publication number: WO2008075116A1
Application number: PCT/HU2007/000123
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zoltán DOBÓ
Original assignee: Dobo Zoltan
Priority date: 2006-12-19
Filing date: 2007-12-17
Publication date: 2008-06-26
Also published as: HUP0600928A2; HU0600928D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a simple cylindrical-conical pipe piece and the procedure itself as a result of which disposable plastic bottles used for different drinks or other liquids can be shrunk to a fraction of their original size after use. The characteristic feature of the vacuum cleaner pipe piece (1) is that, the upper end (2) of it can be connected to the vacuum cleaner pipe (4), and its other lower end (3) can be fitted to an element of the neck part of the disposable plastic bottle (5) in a way that the air can be sucked out of the bottle through the piece, as a result of which the bottle shrinks to a fraction of its original size. The invention relates to the procedure used in the course of using the vacuum cleaner pipe piece for removing the air from the disposable plastic bottle (5) with the help of a vacuum cleaner and shrinking the bottle (5). In the first step of the procedure the cap (6) of the bottle (5) is screwed on loosely, nearly completely, as a result of which the cap (6) operates as a valve after the bottle (5) has been shrunk and seals the path through which the air could escape, and in this way the bottle (5) retains its smallest shrunk size.

Description

Procedure and a simple vacuum cleaner pipe piece for minimising the size of disposable plastic bottle waste

The invention relates to a simple cylindrical-conical pipe, piece and the procedure itself as a result of which disposable plastic bottles used for different drinks or other liquids - not regarded as dangerous substances - can be shrunk to a traction of their original size after use. The field of application of the invention involves all places where drinks sold in plastic disposable bottles are consumed, such liquids are used and where the use of a vacuum cleaner is possible.

By shrinking the bottles to a fraction of their original size the costs of collecting, storing and transporting the waste deriving from the bottles can be reduced by orders of magnitude. So far waste management organisations and environmentalists have only been able to offer the method of "fla Cttie' ning out". Most users S a ιr; e reluctant to use this method, because it is inconvenient, slow and difficult, and the .drops of liquid remaining in the bottle may get spurted during flattening the bottles polluting the environment by this. Furthermore, flattened bottles do not necessarily retain their smallest size, they always "return" to their original shape to some extent.

The aim of the invention is to provide a "fun" and quick method for shrinking disposable plastic bottles with the help of a vacuum cleaner while keeping the environment clean, so that the bottles retain their smallest size even after the shrinking procedure.

The upper end 2 of the conical-cylindrical piece 1 shown in figure 1 can be connected to a vacuum cleaner pipe 4. (A conical internal connection is favourable, because in this way the size of the vacuum cleaner pipe used is optional) The internal diameter of the other lower end 3 of the piece 1 is constructed in a way that it either fits the mouth of the disposable plastic bottle 5 (a version without a valve; in this case the shrunk bottle does not retain its smallest size), or the neck of the bottle 5 together with the cap 6 can be slid into it and then it fits to the collar-like rim 7 on the neck of to the body of the bottle at the base of the neck. In the course of the procedure forming a part of the invention, the plastic bottle is prepared for shrinking by screwing on its cap loosely until it first starts to get tight, and then it is turned back in the opposite direction to a minimal extent (less than a quarter of a turn). The piece connected to the vacuum cleaner pipe is fitted to the bottle in such a way that the body of the bottle or the collar-like rim on the neck seals the lower end of the piece. When the vacuum cleaner is turned on, it sucks the air out of the bottle through the threads of the loosely screwed on cap, and the bottle shrinks. When the vacuum cleaner is turned off, due to the vacuum created inside the bottle, the external air pressure presses the cap onto the mouth of the bottle, it operates as a type of "natural" valve and it does not let the air flow back into the shrunk bottle. Then by screwing on the cap tightly the final position can be ensured. In the course of the procedure the drops of liquid inside the bottle remain in the stronger parts of the bottle resisting the sucking force of the vacuum cleaner (neck and bottom part), they do not contaminate either the piece or the components of the vacuum cleaner. The bottle can also be shrunk without a cap in the same way, but obviously in this case it does not retain its smallest shrunk size, and the drops of liquid can also get out of the bottle more easily.

The pipe piece may be made of any material (cardboard, plastic, metal, glass, ceramic, wood), the only condition is that it needs to be strong enough to resist the sucking force of the vacuum cleaner so that it does not get crushed. (Preferably it should be made of cardboard on the basis of aspects of environmental protection and economy, as it is a tool facilitating the protection of the environment.)

List of references

conical-cylindrical piece upper end lower end vacuum cleaner pipe plastic bottle cap rim

Claims

1. Vacuum cleaner pipe piece (1) characterised by that its upper end (2) can be connected to the vacuum cleaner pipe (4), and its other lower end (3) can be fitted to an element of the neck part of the disposable plastic bottle (5) in a way that the air can be sucked out of the bottle through the piece, as a result of which the bottle shrinks to a fraction of its original size.

2. Vacuum cleaner pipe piece as in claim 1, characterised by that the piece (1) is made of cardboard. ,

3. Vacuum cleaner pipe piece as in claim 1, characterised by that the piece (1) is made of plastic.

4. Vacuum cleaner pipe piece as in claim 1, characterised by that the piece (1) is made of metal.

5. Vacuum cleaner pipe piece as in claim 1, characterised by that the piece (1) is made of glass.

6. Vacuum cleaner pipe piece as in claim 1, characterised by that the piece (1) is made of ceramic.

7. Vacuum cleaner pipe piece as in any of claims 1-6, characterised by that it fits to the neck part of the disposable plastic bottle (5) so that it can be slid onto it, and its internal diameter and length enables air to flow freely between the cap (6) loosely screwed onto the neck of the bottle (5) and the wall of the piece (1), while the lower end (3) of the piece (1) is sealed by the collar-like rim (7) on the neck of the bottle (5) or by the body of the bottle.

8. Procedure used in the course of using the vacuum cleaner pipe piece as in claims 1 and 7 for removing the air from the disposable plastic bottle (5) with the help of a vacuum cleaner and shrinking the bottle (5) by this, characterised by that in the first step of the procedure the cap (6) of the bottle (5) is screwed on loosely, nearly completely, as a result of which the cap (6) operates as a valve after the bottle (5) has been shrunk and seals the path through which the air could escape, and in this way the bottle (5) retains its smallest shrunk size.