Abstract:
A foldable liquid retaining bowl made from a single sheet of flexible material and a pair of standard fastening devices. The sheet of material is capable of being folded into a bowl form with a base and four side walls without needing to be cut or otherwise modified. The side walls are held together on each end by the fastening device such as a glued joint. The sheet of material is treated on at least one side with a water resistant coating. The folded bowl form is capable of being folded flat for storage and or transport. A preferred embodiment includes the sheet of material being made of Kraft paper coated with Polylactide acid (PLA).

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/176,213, filed on Feb. 13, 2015, in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept relate generally to the field of a portable receptacle for holding food or water and more specifically to foldable liquid retaining bowl. 
         [0005]    There are times when a pet owner needs to be able to let his or her pet drink water while in locations other than his or her home. To this end, there is a need for a portable bowl that can be deployed when needed for the above said purpose. Other occasions for needing a foldable bowl include human applications such as needing to use a bowl or cup shape to drink water or other liquid while away from home. 
         [0006]    Others have thought of and proposed solutions for a folding bowl, such as Daniel C. Henecke in his patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,087, now in the public domain, where a dish like receptacle is formed of a pliable sheet of material and is inflated to form a bowl shape. Another example of prior art is Paul Jones&#39;s patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,244 which discloses a portable foldable leak-proof bowl whose sides fold down towards the base of the bowl forming a relatively flat circular shape in the stored position. 
         [0007]    However, there is a deficiency in the prior technology in that the solutions proposed require relatively expensive materials and methods of fabrication causing the resulting bowls to be expensive enough that they cannot be used as a single use, disposable item. Additionally, although the bowls do fold into a relatively flat format for storage and transport, they are not small enough to be easily carried in one&#39;s pocket or purse. Finally, the prior technology does not lend itself to be easily recycled and therefore are not ecologically friendly. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept provide a liquid retaining bowl that can fold flat for storage and transport. 
         [0009]    Exemplary embodiments also provide a liquid retaining bowl that can be manufactured from one sheet of water resistant paper. 
         [0010]    Exemplary embodiments also provide a liquid retaining bowl that is inexpensive to manufacture and disposable after use. 
         [0011]    Exemplary embodiments also provide a liquid retaining bowl that can fit in the palm of one&#39;s hand. 
         [0012]    Exemplary embodiments also provide a liquid retaining bowl that is environmentally friendly. 
         [0013]    Exemplary embodiments also provide a liquid retaining bowl whose surface can be graphically printed. 
         [0014]    Other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept are disclosed. 
         [0015]    In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, there is disclosed a foldable liquid retaining bowl comprising: a sheet of flexible material, a pair of fastening members, said sheet of material capable of being folded into a bowl form comprising a base and four side walls without needing to be cut or otherwise modified, said side walls being held together on each end by said fastening members, said sheet being treated on at least one side with a water resistant coating, and said folded bowl form capable of being folded flat for storage and/or transport. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the present general inventive concept may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept in its flat, unfolded condition; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept in its partially folded condition; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept in a more fully folded condition; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept in its fully folded and deployed condition; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept in its open deployed condition; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept in its open deployed condition; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept in its deployed condition and held in a person&#39;s hand; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept in its closed storage and transport condition; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a partial perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept showing a stepped edge for easier gluing or other attachment methods; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept showing an alternate design using a different method of end attachment; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept showing the folding pattern for constructing the alternate design. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present general inventive concept may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present general inventive concept in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , we see a perspective view of a sheet  100  in its open and relatively flat condition in its rectangular sheet form according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Right and left portions  6 ,  8  have been folded over and adhered into place to increase the stability of the side walls, however, this is an optional feature. The sheet  100  will work without the double sheet condition formed by the fold. The folded portions  6 ,  8  include enough material to form a reinforced lip  10 ,  12  along all four sides of the completed bowl, as will be shown in  FIG. 4 . Dotted lines  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  22 ,  24  indicate fold lines necessary to allow the single sheet  100  to form a bowl shape that can also be folded into a flat condition for storage and transport. Graphic images  20  can be printed on the side panels  6 ,  8 . and on any other surface of the sheet  100 . The sheet  100  may be made of, for example, a paper-like material. The sheet  100  is preferably made of forty gram weight Kraft paper coated with forty gram weight PLA. PLA stands for Polylactic acid or polylactide and is a biodegradable thermoplastic aliphatic polyester derived from renewable resources, such as corn starch, tapioca roots, chips or starch, or sugarcane material. PLA is a waterproof coating. The material has been certified by AIB-Vincotte international for being compostable as well as recyclable. The material is sold under the trademark “FT1”. The approximately forty gram paper weight is heavy enough to create a functional bowl, and yet pliable enough to be able to be easily folded into a flat condition for storage and transport. The waterproof coating makes the inner surface of the bowl capable of retaining liquid, but also meets the criteria for being able to be recycled and compostable and is therefore environmentally friendly. Other paper and non paper materials may be used as long as they fit the criteria of being low cost and environmentally friendly. The low cost of the materials and labor for making the sheet  100  mean that it can be used as a disposable item. The sheet material described above can be disposed of without needing special recycling procedures such as chopping or pulverizing that many plastic and metal materials require. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  shows a partially folded perspective view of the sheet  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Reinforced side edge members  10 ,  12  can be clearly seen. Lines  24 ,  28  show the beginnings of triangular folds that help form the resulting bowl shape. Obviously the sheet  100  can be made of other flexible sheet paper materials or sheet plastic materials such as thin polyethylene or polypropylene, however the plastic sheets are more expensive and not as easily recycled. 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  shows a more fully folded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the sheet  100  where the left side is completely folded into the bowl condition and the right side is in the process of being folded into the bowl condition. Side wall  6  bends to form end wall  6 A and  6 B. Side wall  8  bends to form end walls  8 A and  8 B. The base  30  is formed by the portions of paper on each side of fold line  16 .  FIG. 9  shows one embodiment of the edge of the sheet  100  where the leading edge, shown in  FIG. 9 , and trailing edge, not illustrated, are stepped between each fold segment  12 ,  18 ,  16 ,  15 ,  17 , so that when the sheet  100  is folded as shown in  FIG. 4 , each stepped segment can be glued or otherwise fastened directly to the side walls  6 ,  8 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  is a respective view of the fully folded and deployed bowl of the sheet  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. The sides  6 A and  8 A are held together by adhesive strip  36 . The sides  6 B and  8 B are held together by adhesive strip  34 . In an alternate exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, both sides of the sheet  100  are coated with a polyurethane material that can be RF welded together thereby eliminating the need for adhesive strips  34 ,  36 . Other methods of attachment include gluing, stapling, riveting or any other standard fastening means. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the sheet  100  in the bowl configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the sheet  100  in the bowl configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. In this exemplary embodiment, the long side walls are approximately five inches long and the short side walls are approximately three and three quarters of an inch long. This size is ideal for fitting in the average person&#39;s palm as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 8  shows an exemplary embodiment of the sheet  100  in the folded position for storage and transport. In this exemplary embodiment, the folded length  44  is approximately seven inches long, and the sheet  100  can be folded on itself at dotted line  46  to make a total length of three and one half of an inch long which is suitable for storing in a pocket, purse or even a wallet. In this exemplary embodiment, the height  42  of the side walls is approximately one and three quarters of an inch. 
         [0036]      FIG. 10  shows a top plan view of a sheet  200  according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general with a simple attachment method at each end  202 ,  204  of the resulting bowl where the ends are glued together as shown. 
         [0037]      FIG. 11  shows a plan view of the sheet  200  in the flat, unfolded position. The side edges  208 ,  210  are folded over for added strength. Triangular panels formed by dotted lines  212  are folded towards each other and glued or heat sealed. Similarly, triangle sets  214 ,  216  and  218  are each glued or heat sealed. Central dotted line  206  is a central fold that allows the entire assembly to fold compactly into the general shape shown in  FIG. 8 , however with welded ends  202 ,  204  shown in  FIG. 10 . This exemplary embodiment of the sheet  200  is a simpler construction than the first exemplary embodiment of sheet  100  and is more economical to manufacture. However, this exemplary embodiment of sheet  200  is not as strong as the double walled design in the first exemplary embodiment of sheet  100 . 
         [0038]    The above described and illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept are an ideal convenient, reusable, disposable solution for providing a bowl or cup. While the primary purpose of the present general inventive concept is to provide a drinking bowl for pets such as dogs or cats, it can also be used by children and adults as a drinking cup or bowl for cereal or other foods. The bowl according to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept is inexpensive, light weight, compact, reusable, disposable and compostable, making it ideal for use in many situations that require a liquid holding receptacle while away from home. 
         [0039]    While the present general inventive concept has been described in connection with several preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.