Patent Publication Number: US-2004051008-A1

Title: Container

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001] The present invention relates to a container and stand for items that enclose a bladder containing liquid, methods for making the container and stand and methods for using and transporting the container and stand.  
       BACKGROUND ART  
       [0002] Boxed containers that enclose a bladder containing liquid have been used in the beverage industry. In particular, this type of boxed container has been used to package wine. The boxed container and bladder have provided an inexpensive device for maintaining quality of labile liquids during transport and storage. Dispensing liquid from these boxed containers has been difficult, however, because the containers typically have a dispensing valve at or near the bottom of the container. As a result, the container has to be positioned at the edge of a table in order to dispense liquid into a receptacle.  
       [0003] The Svabek et al. patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,475, issuing Jul. 22, 2003, describes a support stand for a boxed beverage container. The stand is formed from rigid wires and includes a platform supported by two legs. The legs are inter-engagable and lock with locking hoops formed as part of the wire support. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
     [0004]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the container and stand of the present invention.  
     [0005]FIG. 2 is a right side view of the container and stand embodiment of FIG. 1.  
     [0006]FIG. 3 is a front face view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.  
     [0007]FIG. 4 is a left side view of the container and stand embodiment of FIG. 1.  
     [0008]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the container and stand of FIG. 1 in a collapsed position.  
     [0009]FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the container and stand of FIG. 1 in an expanded position.  
     [0010]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of two components of the container and stand of FIG. 1.  
     [0011]FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a blank of the container and stand of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.  
     [0012]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container and stand that includes metal legs.  
     [0013]FIG. 10 is a view illustrating metal legs of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 in a folded position.  
     [0014]FIG. 11 is another embodiment of a container and stand.  
     [0015]FIG. 12 is an open view of the embodiment of FIG. 11.  
     [0016]FIG. 13 is another embodiment of the container and stand.  
     [0017]FIG. 14 is another embodiment of the container and stand.  
     [0018]FIG. 15 is another embodiment of the container and stand that further includes fasteners for beverage containers. 
    
    
     DISCLOSURE  
     [0019] One embodiment of the container and stand of the invention, illustrated generally at  10  in FIGS. 1, 2,  3 , and  4  includes a main body  12 , having four panels  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20  generally rectangular in shape. Two opposing panels  14  and  18  terminate in flanges  22  and  24 , respectively. The main body  12  supports a container  26  that encloses a bladder (not shown). For some embodiments, the bladder contains a beverage, such as wine or other beverage susceptible to oxidation. While beverages are described, it is understood that the container and stand  10  are usable with any container that encloses a bladder.  
     [0020] The container  26  includes a valve  28 , illustrated in FIG. 2 for dispensing the beverage from the bladder. The main body  12  of the container and stand  10  is sized so that a receptacle such as a glass  30  is positionable at an optimal distance from the dispensing valve  28 . The distance is optimal in that dispensed liquid has a minimal amount of splashing and all dispensed liquid is retained within the glass.  
     [0021] The main body  12  of the container and stand  10  is also sized so that the container  26  fits snugly between the flanges  22  and  24 , as shown in a side view in FIG. 4. Additionally, the main body  12  of the container and stand  10  is expandable, from a first length, shown in FIG. 5 to a second longer length, shown in FIG. 6. The main body  12  is expandable because the main body  12  includes two opposing and interconnecting components  32  and  34 , shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.  
     [0022] A plan view for one of the components  32 , is illustrated at  80  in FIG. 8. While a description of component  32  is described herein, it is understood that component  34  is substantially identical to component  32 . The component  32  includes the panel  14  with flange  22 . Fold lines  40  and  50  separate the panel  14  from sidewalls  16  and  20 . Adjacent sidewall  20  is a foldline  70  that separates top panel  48  from the sidewall  20 . Adjacent top panel  48  is foldline  72  that separates the top endwall  48  from internal wall  46 . Internal wall  46 , when in a folded position, is parallel to and opposing sidewall  20 . Adjacent sidewall  20  is another foldline  68  that separates sidewall  20  from bottom panel  54 . Adjacent internal wall  46  is foldline  74  that separates internal wall  46  from a second bottom panel  44 . The panels  54  and  44  are attached to each other. In one embodiment, the panels  54  and  44  are adhered to each other with an adhesive. As a result, the walls  20 ,  48 ,  46 , and  54  define a space  57 , shown in FIG. 7. The walls and panels  20 ,  46 ,  48 , and  54  are foldable to define a slider  80 , shown in FIG. 8. A second slider  82 , shown in FIG. 7, is also contiguous to the wall  20 . The second slider defines a space  84 .  
     [0023] Component  34 , includes sliders  86  and  88 , respectively, illustrated in FIG. 7. The sliders  86  and  88  are made from a blank substantially identical to the blank  80  used to make component  32 . To make the stand and container of the present invention, the sliders  86  and  88  are inserted into spaces  57  and  84  formed by sliders  80  and  82 . The stand and container  10  is elongated by moving the component panels  14  and  18  away from each other. The stand and container  10  are shortened by moving the walls  14  and  18  toward each other. In one embodiment, the panels  14  and  18  include fingerholes to facilitate movement of the panels  14  and  18 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the sliders  86  and  88  and  80  and  82  are rotatable about the foldline that separates the sliders from the wall with a flange. The components  32  and  34  are foldable so that the components are flat with only the panel  14  and  18 , respectively, visible.  
     [0024] The stand and container device  10  is made from a sturdy and durable material such as cardboard, or a polymeric material. For some embodiments, the material is foldable. The stand and container  10  includes, in some embodiments, decorative indicia and instructions for assembly and use. The instructions are located on one or more of the walls or panels.  
     [0025] The stand and container  10  of the invention is made by assembling two blanks, such as the blank shown at  80  in FIG. 8. Each blank  80  shown in FIG. 8 is usable for fabricating one of the two components  32  and  34  required. The blank is fabricated using conventional procedures for blank manufactured. The stand and container  10  is made using conventional procedures for folding blanks into containers.  
     [0026] Some embodiments of the invention include kits. Elements of the kits include the stand and container of the invention  10 , the box containing a beverage within a bladder  26 , and, optionally, one or more receptacles  30  for receiving the beverage. In one particular embodiment, the beverage is wine and the receptacles are wine glasses. In one embodiment, the wine glasses are contained within a space  83 , shown in FIG. 5 and are fixed within space of the stand and container. The wine glasses are fixed with a mechanism such as a strap mechanism, shown in FIG. 16. The stand and container  10  includes indicia describing features and instructions for assembling and using the kit. The kits include a range of sizes based upon the size of the container enclosing the bladder containing liquid.  
     [0027] Other kit embodiments of the invention include the stand and container of the invention  10 , the box containing a beverage within a bladder  26 , and optionally one or more receptacles  30  for receiving the beverage. These elements are placed in a carrier, such as is shown in FIG. 16. The wine glasses are fixed within space of the carrier. The stand and container includes indicia describing features and instructions for assembling and using the kit.  
     [0028] Another kit embodiment includes blanks of the components  32  and  34  that are flattened so that the panel  14  for blank  32  is viewable. This kit also includes the container with the bladder  26  and, optionally, glasses. One or both of the blanks includes indicia containing instructions for one or more of assembly, and use and, optionally, decoration.  
     [0029] One other embodiment of the present invention includes a container  100  with metal legs  102  that are extendable as shown in FIG. 9 and retractable, as shown in FIG. 10. A second container with a bladder containing liquid is positionable within the container  100 . The container  100  includes an orifice for a valve  104  on the container enclosing the bladder.  
     [0030] In one embodiment, the container  100  with the second container is positioned within a carrying device, shown at  110  in FIG. 11. The carrying device  110  includes a strap  112 , handle  114 , and decorative indicia. The carrying device includes an opening for a valve or pour spout. Some carrying device embodiments include insulation to keep a liquid cool or hot.  
     [0031] Another carrying device is shown at  200  in FIG. 15. The device  200  includes straps  202  that enable the device  200  to be carried as a backpack. The device  200  includes a carrier  204  for carrying the container with the bladder containing liquid. The device  200  also includes a compartment  206  for storing beverage containers and a compartment  208  for housing a pour spout. The device  200  is optionally insulated.  
     [0032] While a container with the bladder containing liquid is shown for device  200  and device  100 , it is understood that the device  100  and the device  200  are capable of carrying the stand and container of the invention, along with the container with the bladder.  
     [0033] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, limited only by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of functional equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.