Abstract:
A collapsible container consists of three parts: a rigid top rim, a flexible center band, and a rigid base. This combination of sections allows the container to easily collapse to about one-third of its original height. The container is also quite stable when expanded and is self-supporting. In various embodiments of the invention, for example, the upper rim may be expandable, the base may include holes or mesh to serve as a colander or strainer, or the base may be configured as a tube to function as a funnel.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/690,045 filed Mar. 22, 2007. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to collapsible bowls, colanders, measuring cups, and strainers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Large kitchen items such as bowls and colanders can be difficult to store. They can take up to an inordinate amount of space in a kitchen cabinet or drawer, making it cumbersome to retrieve the item and replace it when finished. 
         [0004]    In some instances, others have created collapsible containers to reduce the storage space required. But existing collapsible containers have several drawbacks. Some collapsible containers are made of a single material, generally a type of plastic, with multiple pleats. The design makes them very hard to expand and collapse because the material is relatively stiff and a substantial force is required. In some instances, collapsible strainers have been formed entirely from a flexible material. This design allows the item to be readily flattened, but because the material is so flexible it is not self-supporting and will just collapse when placed on a surface. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved collapsible container and strainer that can be easily collapsed and expanded and that is fully self-supporting on a surface. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The preferred collapsible container as discussed below consists of three parts: a rigid top rim, a flexible center band, and a rigid base. This combination of sections allows the container to easily collapse to about one-third of its original height. The container is also quite stable when expanded and is self-supporting. The top rim of the container can incorporate different types of handle shapes. The base can also have different kinds of shapes, such as cut away section for draining or non-skid feet. 
         [0006]    In some examples of the invention, the container is a colander. In that form, the container base preferably includes holes to facilitate draining, but the center band and rim do not have holes. 
         [0007]    In yet other examples, the container is a funnel, a strainer, or other item that generally includes a rigid rim and collapsible center section. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a preferred colander; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a preferred colander; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a preferred colander in an expanded position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a preferred colander in a collapsed position; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side view of an alternate preferred colander; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternate preferred colander; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a side view of an over-the-sink collapsible colander; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an over-the-sink collapsible colander; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an over-the-sink collapsible colander, shown with a rim in a retracted position; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a preferred colander with handle; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a preferred collapsible bowl in a collapsed position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a side view of a preferred collapsible bowl in an expanded position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a top view of a preferred collapsible strainer; 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a side view of a preferred collapsible strainer; 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a preferred collapsible funnel; 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is a side view of a preferred collapsible funnel; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of a collapsible container, taken along the lines A-A from  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0026]      FIGS. 1-4  depict an example of a collapsible container which, in the form as shown, is a colander  10 .  FIG. 1  shows a side view of the colander  10 , in which the colander  10  includes a substantially rigid rim  12  and a substantially rigid base  20 , and a flexible center section extending between the base and the rim. The center section is a flexible membrane  14  attached to the base and the rim such that together the base, rim, and center membrane form the container. Preferably, the center section is formed from a single material extending between the rim and the base, and most preferably, the material is a food-grade material so that the container can be used with food items. 
         [0027]    As shown, the membrane  14  includes a first relatively uniform section  21 , a first folding section  22 , a second relatively uniform section  23 , and a second folding section  24 . Each of the first and second relatively uniform sections is formed from flexible material having a substantially uniform thickness within the region of that section. The thickness and material is chosen to provide a sufficient degree of rigidity such that the container will not collapse under its own weight when extended into the position of  FIG. 1 . In some examples of the invention, the height of the central section is approximately half the height of the membrane overall. 
         [0028]    In the preferred embodiment, the membrane  14  is formed from silicone and the base  20  and rim  12  are each formed from plastic, with the membrane being over-molded onto the rim and the base. The membrane may alternatively be formed from other flexible materials such as thermoplastic elastomers, and may be glued or otherwise adhered to the base and rim. Likewise, the rim and base may alternatively be formed from other rigid or semi-rigid materials such as metals. 
         [0029]    The base  20  includes a convex or rounded portion  27  that serves as the bottom of the container  10 . The bottom of the base need not necessarily be rounded, but it facilitates drainage in the form of a colander and is a preferred shape in the form of a bowl. The base also includes a peripheral rim defined by a plurality of feet  29  that are each separated by cut-away arches  28 . The bottoms of the feet  29  are preferably lower than the outermost and lowest portion of the rounded portion  27 , such that the bottom of the rounded portion  27  of the container is above and will not touch the floor of a sink or other horizontal surface on which the container is placed. This arrangement of the height of the feet helps to facilitate more rapid drainage of liquids from the colander. In other examples of the invention, the base has no feet, and may alternatively terminate in an annular rim or a substantially flat bottom. 
         [0030]    The base of the container includes a plurality of holes  30  to allow drainage when the container takes the form of a colander. As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the size, shape, and arrangement of the holes may vary. In one example, the base may include a first plurality of generally circular holes  30   a  and a second plurality of generally oval holes  30   b . As shown, the circular holes  30   a  are positioned toward the center of the base while the second plurality of oval holes is distributed radially outward from the center. Optionally, a third plurality of circular holes  30   c  is provided adjacent an upper rim of the base. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the container (in this case a colander) can be expanded so that it is ready to accept food or other items. The holes within the base allow the liquid to drain from the bottom of the container. When not in use, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the container can be collapsed. In the collapsed position, the height of the container is much shorter than in the expanded position. In the most preferred example, the height of the container when collapsed is approximately one third of the height of the container when expanded. Each of the first and second folding sections  22 ,  24  has been folded in order to collapse the container. Thus, the membrane  14  has been folded upward along the first folding section  22  and downward along the second folding section  24 . The first and second substantially uniform sections  21 ,  23  remain substantially uniform and not folded. 
         [0032]    In alternate forms of the invention, the first uniform section  21  is substantially omitted, such that the membrane  14  is attached to the rim  12  at a location relatively close to the first folding section  22 . 
         [0033]    The first and second folding sections  22 ,  24  are created within the membrane  14  by forming one or more portions about the membrane that are more likely than the rest of the membrane to fold under force. In one example, each folding section includes several alternating convex and concave ridges about the entire perimeter of the membrane. Alternately, the folding sections may be regions of thinner material, may be scored, have surrounding thickened regions, or otherwise be fashioned to urge the membrane to fold in the vicinity of the folding region. In this fashion, each of the folding sections serves as a living hinge that is configured to be more willing to fold than the substantially uniform sections  21 ,  23 . 
         [0034]    In order to collapse the container, a force is applied at the rim  12 , with the force generally being in the direction from the rim toward the base. To expand the container, a force is applied to urge the rim upward while holding the base generally stationary. 
         [0035]    In an alternate example, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the membrane  14  may also include holes for drainage. In this example, the container is the same as in  FIGS. 1-4  except that a plurality of drainage holes  40  is provided. Although the holes in the membrane are possible, the inventor has found that the inclusion of such holes adds an unnecessary complexity to the construction of the device, and further that the colander drains equally well without adding holes to the membrane. 
         [0036]    In yet another example, the collapsible container may be configured to enable the rim of the container to rest on the rim of a sink so that the colander is suspended over the sink. An example container of this type is shown in  FIGS. 7-9 . The container as shown includes a rim, central membrane, and base as described above with respect to  FIGS. 1-4 . The principal difference is that the rim is expandable to enable the container to be suspended over a sink  52 . Thus, the rim includes a first side  54 , a second side  55 , and a pair of arms  56 . The arms are slideably retained within sleeves defined by front and back portions of the rim  58 , thereby allowing the width between the first side of the rim  54  and second side of the rim  55  to be adjusted to accommodate sinks of varying sizes. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , with the arms  56  extended to a desired width the first side of the rim rests on a first side of the counter top  50   a  (or sink rim) and the second side of the rim of the container rests on a second side of the countertop  50   b  (or sink rim). The container is thereby suspended above the sink to allow a user to place a large quantity of items into the container. Because this example also includes a plurality of drainage holes in the base as described above, it can be used as a colander, with water from a faucet being used to rinse food items such as fruits and vegetables. 
         [0038]    When finished using the over-the-sink version of the invention, the arms are retracted as shown in  FIG. 9 . The container can also be collapsed as described above and illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In alternate examples, the expandable arms may be telescoping, folding, or otherwise configured to extend from a retracted to an extended position. 
         [0039]    Another example of the invention is shown in  FIG. 10 . In this example, the container includes a handle  60  attached to the rim, in this case by forming the rim with an integral handle. While such a handle may be attached to any version of the invention, it is most useful for somewhat smaller container sizes in which the user can hold the container by the handle while draining items placed within the container. Other than the handle  60 , the container as illustrated in  FIG. 10  is otherwise functionally similar to the container of  FIGS. 1-4 . 
         [0040]    In some forms of the invention, the base does not include drainage holes. Such an example of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . In this form, the container is a bowl rather than a colander, and therefore the base  20  does not include holes. Because it is not functioning as a colander, the base  20  also need not include arched portions, but rather can simply include a circular foundation configured to rest on a surface. The central membrane is configured to be collapsible as described above with respect to  FIGS. 1-4 , such that the bowl can be collapsed as shown in  FIG. 11  or expanded as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0041]    Instead of relatively large drainage holes within the base, the base may include a metal or other mesh material so that the container is adapted for use as a strainer rather than a colander. An example of this form of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , in which the container includes an upper rim  12 , a handle  60 , a central membrane  14 , and a base  20 . The base in this case includes a ring formed of substantially rigid plastic, with mesh material  70  secured to the ring and filling the area within the ring. The mesh is preferably a metal wire mesh, but may alternatively be formed from other materials. 
         [0042]    As best seen in  FIG. 14 , the outer portion of the base  20  may optionally include a plurality of peripheral feet  29  and cut-away arches  28 , in the manner as described with respect to  FIG. 1 . The strainer is collapsible in the manner of the other containers described above, by including a flexible membrane with a living hinge. 
         [0043]    An additional example of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . In this example, the container is a funnel defined by an upper rim  12 , a flexible central membrane  14 , and a base  80 . The base of the funnel is substantially tubular, in which the diameter of the tubular base is much smaller than that of the upper rim. The funnel is collapsible in the manner of the other containers described above, by including a flexible membrane with a living hinge. 
         [0044]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of a collapsible container, in this case the container depicted in  FIG. 9 . Accordingly, the view of  FIG. 17  is taken along the line A-A from  FIG. 9 . Each of the collapsible containers described above has a similar cross-sectional construction, however, and therefore this image is intended to also be generally representative of the other embodiments described above. 
         [0045]    As shown, the collapsible container includes a flexible membrane  14  having a first folding section  22 , a relatively uniform section  23 , and a second folding section  24 . Each of the first and second folding sections are living hinges in which the elastomeric material forming the membrane  14  is somewhat thinner than the surrounding material, thereby making the material at the living hinge more susceptible to folding than the surrounding material. While the living hinge is formed by use of a thinner section of material in the preferred embodiment, it should be understood that the folding sections can be produced in other means in order to manufacture a location that is more likely to bend or fold than other areas. 
         [0046]    The relatively uniform section  23  is illustrated as having a generally consistent thickness across its length between the first and second folding sections. Alternatively, this central section need not be uniform, but rather is preferably formed such that it generally resists folding more than the first and second folding sections. 
         [0047]    Each of the collapsible containers is preferably dimensionally arranged as depicted in  FIG. 17 . Thus, a first vertical length l 1  is defined as the distance between the top of the rim of the container and the first folding section  22 . A second vertical length l 2  is defined as the distance between the first folding section and the second folding section. A third vertical length l 3  is defined as the distance between the lowest part of the base and the second folding section. Each of these lengths when expressed as a “vertical length” is measured as a vertical distance above a horizontal surface upon which the container is resting. 
         [0048]    In the preferred form, each of the lengths l 1 , l 2 , and l 3  is approximately the same in magnitude, dividing the container into thirds. Consequently, when the container is collapsed the height of the container is approximately one-third of its original height. In other forms of the invention, each of the three vertical heights is at least one-quarter of the overall height of the container when expanded. 
         [0049]    In addition, the location of the second folding section  24  and the length of the central section  23  as defined by l 2  are such that at least a portion of the base  20  extends below the flexible membrane  14  when the container is in the collapsed position. This relationship ensures that the container is resting on the base even when collapsed, reducing the stress on the living hinge during storage. 
         [0050]    While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.