GB2399332A

GB2399332A - Collapsible container with integral locking mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2399332A
Application number: GB0305516A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Andrew Hewitt; Peter Edward Wilding
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-03-11
Filing date: 2003-03-11
Publication date: 2004-09-15
Also published as: GB0305516D0

Abstract

An adjustable container (10) that has a bellows region (1) and an internal mechanism (2, 7) to maintain a progressive controlled collapse of the container to reduce the container's size to various progressively smaller positions during use. The said container is a multi-purpose container for containing a consumable or perishable liquid such as a carbonated beverage. The container can be resealed for later use after discharging part of the contents. After opening, the reduction in the size of the container helps to maintain freshness of the contents for longer. The internal mechanism (2, 7) may have conical shaped teeth (11) which can engage the neck (9) of the sleeve (7). A slot (8) may be provided to allow the sleeve (7) to expand.

Description

2.. .32 Adjustable container for liquids using a bellows and internal

mechanism

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an adjustable container, specifically but not exclusively, a container for a carbonated beverage. It is more particularly directed to maintaining the freshness of the beverage or other perishable liquid contents.

BACKGROUND

Most containers for storing liquids for consumer use are conventional bottles made of synthetic materials such as plastic. There are many varieties of containers to meet this end, of which one of the most popular and economical is the blow-moulded plastic bottle.

Typically, after a consumer has discharged part of the contents of a conventional bottle of carbonated drink such as a soft drink, the container would be resealed in the normal way with the result that the dissolved carbon dioxide content of the liquid remaining in the bottle becomes depleted relatively quickly by vaporizing into carbonic acid gas. This causes the beverage to "go flat", which is unacceptable to the consumer.

This process is unavoidable because, even when the bottle is resealed, bubbles, in the form of carbonic acid gas, rise to the surface, which increases the bottle's internal pressure until the pressure inside the bottle prevents further bubbles of carbonic acid gas rising to the surface. The greater the air gap at the top of the bottle, the more bubbles of carbonic acid gas are needed to re- pressurize the bottle and ultimately the drink may become flat well before it is empty. This is particularly noticeable if the bottle is left in a half full state for several days before being used again.

A further problem associated with storing perishable liquids such as s milk, yoghurt, fruit juice, carbonated drinks, wines, beers, inks, dyes, resins, medical drugs, animal or human blood is that liquids degrade in quality or freshness once opened or exposed to an outside environment such as the air in a room. When the consumer uses only part of the contents, the container is resealed leaving an air gap in the top of the container. This air gap causes the remaining contents to degrade in quality.

A third problem associated with conventional bottles concerns the disposal of the used container. For example, most blow moulded plastic bottles are not easily crumpled to a smaller size on disposal and maintain their original size. Modern consumers have become increasingly conscious of the need to reduce the volume of waste packaging to protect the environment.

The present invention seeks to address these three problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an adjustable container for the s storage of liquids, particularly carbonated beverages, said container comprising: a collapsible bellows or concertina type container; an internal clamping mechanism; a cap for sealing the container; wherein, in use, the clamping mechanism clamps the bellows so that the bellows cannot be expanded by any force, due for example to the release of gases; by applying pressure to the top of the container the bellows is allowed to collapse whilst the clamping mechanism engages to clamp the bellows in the new position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a container in a fully assembled position; Figure 2 is a vertical cross section of a container showing a bellows with a method to internally fix, secure or clamp the container into position; Figure 3 is a vertical cross section of a container according to a further embodiment of the present invention when fully collapsed; Figure 4 is a side view of a container according to a further embodiment of the present invention when fully collapsed; Figure 5 is an exploded cross section of the upper insert; Figure 6 is an exploded cross section of the lower sleeve; Figure 7 is a cross section detail view of the upper insert in situ;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment the invention is a collapsible bellows or concertina type container that can be adjusted in size or volume during use aided by an internal mechanism which clamps the bellows in place; the container is filled with a carbonated beverage such as a soft drink. The bottle or container can then be supplied to the consumer and will maintain its volume and intended internal pressure until opened much like a conventional container.

Referring to figures l, 2, 3 and 4 the container, identified generally as (lo), has a bellows or concertina (l) and a cap (4). The bellows (l) is clamped into position internally by means of the upper insert (2) and by the lower sleeve (7).

Referring to figures 2, 5 and 6 the newly assembled filled container would have the first tooth (3) engaged in the sleeve (7) and held in place by the neck (9). The insert (2) has conical shaped teeth (ll) which give the container (10) various adjustable, progressively smaller positions; which is made possible due to a slot (8) which allows the sleeve (7) to expand sufficiently to allow the first tooth (3) and subsequent teeth (11) to engage and to be held in place by s the neck (9) on the sleeve (7). Note; the sleeve (7) is fixed the bottom end of the container with a weld (12). Once the teeth (11) on the upper insert (2) are engaged in the lower sleeve (7), it is not possible for the bellows to expand, only to contract.

l0 Referring to figure 7, the top of the container is clamped by the upper insert (2) due to the flange (6) which is recessed (14) under the threaded cap (4) to allow the cap to make a seal. Referring to figure 5, the insert has holes (5) to allow the fluid to be emptied from the container in use.

An advantage of this embodiment of the invention is that the user can partially collapse the container after pouring off part of the beverage in order to keep the remaining contents fresh. Typically, after discharging part of its contents, the consumer then compresses the container so that the internal mechanism latches the container into a new position so a reduced container capacity or volume is achieved. A nominal, smaller, air gap is now left at the top of the container. The cap is then replaced. Because the air gap is now much smaller than in the case of a partly discharged conventional bottle, 2s fewer bubbles of carbonic acid gas will therefore need to rise to re- pressurize the container, thus saving carbon dioxide content. The result is that the remaining contents will remain fresher or carbonated for longer, than in a conventional bottle. Even if a container, using the invention, is left for several days the contents will remain relatively tizzy Compressing the container during use is best done with the cap on but loose to avoid the top insert protruding. It should also be noted that it is possible to compress the container, to a reduced volume, during use with the cap on and sealed tightly which will result in the air gap being reduced and thus further pressurizing the container. This may be a preferred alternative method of pressuring s the container by some users.

In a further aspect, the invention is used to keep non-carbonated fluids or liquids fresher. In the case of milk or perishable foodstuffs the airgap in the container directly relates to the speed of contamination once the bottle is opened. The secondary purpose therefore is to keep the container's air-gap minimised after partial usage to help reduce the effects of contamination or degrading due to internal air volume.

At a further stage, the consumer crushes the container to a significantly smaller size before disposal by applying pressure to the top of the container. Figures 3 and 4 shows the container in a fully collapsed position.

Whilst the above description is of a specific embodiment which is representative of the invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment is used for the purpose of illustration only and that many variations, alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the construction and arrangement of parts previously 2s described without departing from the essential features or spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims

1.An adjustable container for the storage of consumable or perishable liquids, particularly carbonated beverages, said container comprising: a collapsible bellows or concertina type container; an internal clamping mechanism; a cap for sealing the container; characterized by the clamping mechanism clamping the bellows so that the bellows cannot be expanded by any force; by applying pressure to the top of the container the bellows is allowed to collapse whilst the clamping mechanism engages to clamp the bellows in the new position.

2.A container according to claim 1, with the cap removed or loosened, is adjustable, allowing the bellows region to compress with a regulated, controlled, progressive collapse of the bellows region in order to produce a progressively smaller container.

3.A container according to claim 1, with the cap fastened and sealed, is adjustable, allowing the bellows region to compress with a regulated, controlled, progressive collapse of the bellows region in order to produce a progressively smaller container that therefore results in the internal air pressure of the container being increased.

4.A container according to claim 1, filled with a carbonated beverage.

5.A container according to claim 1, filled with a non s carbonated beverage.

6.A container according to claim 1, filled with a perishable liquid.

lo

7.A container according to claim 1, which can be crushed to a significantly smaller size for disposal by applying pressure to the top of the container.

8.A container according to claim 1, where the clamping mechanism comprises: an insert anchored to the top of the container; a sleeve secured to the bottom of the container; characterized by the first tooth on the upper insert engaging in the lower sleeve to clamp the bellows in place; when the bellows is allowed to collapse the second and subsequent teeth on the insert spigot engage in the sleeve to clamp the 2s bellows in the new position, thus preventing the bellows returning to its original size