Patent Publication Number: US-6334543-B1

Title: Collapsible container

Description:
RELATED INVENTION 
     The instant invention is a Continuation-In-Part of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/145,992, Filed Jul. 29,1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to containers, and more specifically, to a plastic, foldable container that can be used in an automobile as an emergency can. 
     2. Prior Art 
     The use of a containers filled with gasoline carried in the trunk of a car is well known. Carrying a typical gas can uses much of the storage space in the trunk of the car. The same problem arises with the carrying of fuel to refuel an outboard motor boat. After the gas is poured, a large container is still taking up extra space. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention is a foldable container that can be used in an automobile as an emergency gas can or for any other liquid requiring ease of pouring and storing the container. The “can” of this invention will fold down to “inches” and may be stored in the trunk of a car and will not take up as much room as a conventional gas can. The container of the invention consists generally of accordion type pleats. The top is formed with a foldable handle and a depression containing the pouring nozzle. A cover, having a two piece telescoping nozzle is used with a plug to seal the container. The telescoping nozzle is retracted, inverted, and stored inside the cover when the cover is closed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view, partly in section, along line A—A, of FIG. 2, of the container in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the container in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side, sectional view of the container in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of an alternative embodiment for a seal in accordance with the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The container of the invention, shown in FIG. 1, is designated generally by the numeral  10  and consists generally of accordion type pleats  11  and  12  shown in an open position. 
     The top  17  is formed with a depression  13  having a threaded projection  14  formed therein for filling and emptying the container  10 . Cover  30  is shown in FIG. 1 with telescoping nozzle  20  ready for pouring. 
     A folding handle  15  is pivoted in brackets  16  and  19  fastened to the top  17  with rivets  18 . To unfold the container  10 , the folding handle  15  is pulled while holding the bottom  17  and it will unfold. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the telescoping nozzle  20  consisting of lower section  31 , and upper section  32  nested in the cover  30 . Lower section  31  is shown abutting the inside surface  36  to form a seal. The cover  30 , having threads  33 , is screwed onto threaded projection  14  and bottom surface  37  engages threaded opening  14  to seal the container  10 . Stopper  34  is plugged into hole  35  in cover  30  for sealing the container  10 . 
     FIG. 4 shows a disk seal  38  which may be used in an alternative embodiment to seal the hole  35 . In operation, the seal  38  is placed inside the cover  30  before the lower section  31  is inserted and is gripped between the inside surface  36  of cover  30  and lower section  31  thus blocking the hole  35  and sealing the container  10 . 
     While the principles of the invention have been described above in connection with a specific embodiment of the application, it is to be understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation on the scope of the invention.