Patent Publication Number: US-2010108698-A1

Title: Compressible and expandable container

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to a container, and more specifically, to a container designed to compress or expand in volume in response to force applied by user. 
     COPYRIGHT &amp; TRADEMARK NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent application may contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever. 
     Certain marks referenced herein may be common law or registered trademarks of third parties affiliated or unaffiliated with the applicant or the assignee. Use of these marks is by way of example and shall not be construed as descriptive or to limit the scope of this invention to material associated only with such marks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Containers may be used in a variety of ways, such as in the transportation, organization, or storage of various objects. Typically, the larger the container, the more objects may be held in the container. As such, the utility of a container with regards to its storage or transport capacity increases as the size of the container increases. 
     While the utility of a container may increase as the size of the container increases, with exception to containers used for the storage of objects, most of the time a container is not utilized. For example, while a water bucket may be used when one washes their car, most of the time the bucket sits unused in one&#39;s garage, as washing one&#39;s car only takes a fraction of one&#39;s time. Thus, most of the time, containers with great utility simply take up space. 
     In today&#39;s society, space has value. One rents commercial space by the foot. Real property value is dependent upon the lot size. The size of a car is a variable in the car&#39;s price. Thus, the less space a container requires when it is not used, the less money the container effectively costs for its storage. As such, the cost of storage for a conventional container with static dimensions increases as the container&#39;s utility increases. Therefore, it would be beneficial to have a container that could take up less space in storage but to hold more when the container is utilized. 
     There is a need in the art for a compressible and expandable container. Specifically, there is a need for a container designed to expand or compress in volume to the needs of the user. It is to these ends that the present invention has been developed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To minimize the limitations in the prior art, and to minimize other limitations that will be apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention describes a compressible and expandable container designed to change in volume in response to force applied by user 
     An apparatus in accordance with the present invention may comprise a bottom, a top, wherein the top comprises a spout situated on a distal side of the top and a handle situated on a proximal side of the top, and a sidewall attached to the bottom and the top to form an enclosure that is adapted to support a liquid, wherein the sidewall is configured to have a compressible and expandable wall configuration. 
     Additionally, an apparatus in accordance with the present invention may comprise a bottom, a top, and a sidewall attached to the bottom and the top to form an enclosure that is adapted to support a liquid, wherein the sidewall is configured to have a compressible and expandable wall configuration, and the sidewall is comprised of polyethylene 0035. 
     Moreover, an apparatus in accordance with the present invention may comprise a bottom, a top, wherein the top comprises of a threaded spout adapted to thread with a threaded cover, and a sidewall attached to the bottom and the top to form an enclosure that is adapted to support a liquid, wherein the sidewall is configured to have a compressible and expandable wall configuration. 
     It is an objective of the present invention to provide a compressible and expandable container that may compress, reducing the container&#39;s height and volume. 
     It is another objective of the present invention to provide a compressible and expandable container that may expand, increasing the container&#39;s height and volume. 
     It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a user with a container that may carry increased amounts of liquid, while being able to store the container in a reduced amount of space. 
     Finally, it is yet another objective of the present invention to provide the user with a compressible and expandable container that may reduce the amount of exertion required to lift and carry said container. 
     These and other advantages and features of the present invention are described herein with specificity so as to make the present invention understandable to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale in order to enhance their clarity and improve understanding of these various elements and embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well understood to those in the industry are not depicted in order to provide a clear view of the various embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 1(   a ) illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a container in expanded position, comprising a bottom, a top, and a sidewall attached to the bottom and the top to form an enclosure that is adapted to support a liquid. 
         FIG. 1(   b ) illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a container in compressed position, comprising a bottom, a top, and a sidewall attached to the bottom and the top to form an enclosure that is adapted to support a liquid. 
         FIG. 1(   c ) illustrates a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the following discussion that addresses a number of embodiments and applications of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, where depictions are made, by way of illustration, of specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1(   a ) illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a container in expanded position, comprising a bottom, a top, and a sidewall attached to the bottom and the top to form an enclosure that is adapted to support a liquid.  FIG. 1(   b ) illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a container in compressed position, comprising a bottom, a top, and a sidewall attached to the bottom and the top to form an enclosure that is adapted to support a liquid. 
       FIGS. 1(   a ) and  1 ( b ) show container  100 , which includes bottom  102 , top  104 , and sidewall  106 , which is adapted to support a liquid, wherein the sidewall is configured to have both a compressible and expandable configuration. Top  104  may include a handle  108 , spout  110 , cover  112  and spout threading  114 . Container  100  is designed to provide increased volume when in an expanded state, but to also provide decreased volume and easier storage when in a compressed state. 
     Bottom  102  is composed of a flat base surface in which container  100  may sit upon when not lifted by user. Top  104  may comprise of handle  108 , spout  110 , cover  112  and spout threading  114 . Top  104  and its various sub-components will be discussed in detail below at  FIG. 1(   c ). Both bottom  102  and top  104  may be composed of a variety of materials, including polypropylene, polyethylene, neoprene, or any other material that is sufficiently resistant to and safe for storage and transportation of both water and oil-based products. This list of materials, however, should not be construed so as to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     In a preferred embodiment, container  100  has a maximum volume of five gallons, with a width of six inches, length of five inches, and a maximum height of seventeen inches. In the preferred embodiment, container  100  has a minimum height of two inches. In another embodiment, container  100  may have a maximum volume of two and a half gallons, with a width of five inches, length of ten inches, and a maximum height of thirteen inches and a minimum height of one and a half inches. The dimensions of these preferred embodiments, however, should not be construed so as to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1(   a ) and  1 ( b ), container  100  includes a continuous sidewall  106  that is securely attached to the entire perimeter of both bottom  102  and top  104  so as to form an enclosure that may be adapted to support or contain a liquid. However, container  100  may include more than one sidewall  106 . In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, container  100  may include a plurality of vertical support columns orthogonal to both bottom  102  and top  104 . A plurality of sidewalls  106  may be attached to vertical support columns, bottom  102  and top  104  so as to form an enclosure that may be adapted to support or contain a liquid. Thus, the number of sidewalls  106  in container  100  should not be used as to narrow the scope of the present invention. 
     Sidewall  106  may be composed of a variety of materials, including polyethylene 0035 (also known or referred to as PET 0035), or any other material that is flexible so as to permit compression and expansion of sidewall  106  while rigid enough so as to permit container  100  to function as a stiff container. Additionally, sidewall  106  may be composed of a material that is sufficiently resistant to both water and oil-based products. In a preferred embodiment, container  100  is made of polyethylene 0035. Polyethylene 0035 is lightweight, durable, impact-resistant and performs well as a barrier to oil and water-based products. 
     Sidewall  106  may comprise of a plurality of compressible and expandable folds  116 . Folds  116  may expand or compress in size, thereby expanding or compressing sidewall  106 . When container  100  is compressed or expanded, the height of sidewall  106  increases or decreases respectively. 
     The range of compression and expansion of fold  116  depends upon the dimensions of container  100  and the material employed in sidewall  106 . Additionally, each fold  116  in sidewall  106  may be uniform in size and shape; however, these properties should not limit the scope of the present invention. 
     When container  100  is expanded, as shown in  FIG. 1(   a ), the surface area of fold  116  remains the same, but the distance between the top and bottom of fold  116  increases. When container  100  is compressed, as shown in  FIG. 1(   b ), the surface area of fold  116  remains the same, but the distance between the top and bottom of fold  116  decreases. As such, when container  100  is compressed or expanded, the surface area of sidewall  106  remains constant. 
     When container  100  is compressed or expanded, the height of sidewall  106 , and consequently the volume of container  100 , is modified by the compression or expansion of folds  116 . As such, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in order to provide for uniform dimensionality across sidewall  106 , bottom  102  and top  104  need have the same dimensions and surface area. 
     In an expanded state, as shown in  FIG. 1(   a ), container  100  has an increased height and a corresponding increased volume. As such, container  100 , in an expanded state, may provide increased carrying capacity as compared to container  100  in a compressed state. When compressed, as shown in  FIG. 1(   b ), container  100  has a reduced height and a reduced volume. Thus, container  100 , when compressed, may be easier carried and stored in a smaller location because container  100  has reduced dimensions. 
     While container  100  may have a minimum and maximum height and a corresponding minimum and maximum volume, any configuration of container  100  in between its most compressed and the most expanded state may be utilized. Thus, while the most expanded state of container  100  may provide the greatest volume and largest carrying capacity, and the most compressed state of container  100  may provide the least volume for easiest storage and transport, container  100  may be utilized in a configuration somewhere in between tailored to the specific needs of the user. For example, should a user need only a fraction of the carrying capacity that may be provided by container  100  in its most expanded configuration, container  100  may be utilized in a configuration less than its most expanded state, but more than the most compressed state, in order to provide the carrying capacity required by user with the dimensions easiest for transport and most efficient for storage. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, container  100  may be expanded or compressed by the application of force upon bottom  102  and top  104 . The amount of force required to expand or compress container  100  depends upon the material used in sidewall  106 , the thickness of sidewall  106 , and the total height of and number of folds  116  in sidewall  106 . In another embodiment of container  100 , simply adding liquid may expand container  100 , and removing liquid may compress container  100 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, cover  112  may be securely attached to spout  110  to form a pressurized seal. In this embodiment of container  100 , cover  112  should not be securely attached to spout  110  when expanding or compressing container  100 . When cover  112  is not securely attached to spout  110 , container  100  may be expanded or compressed accordingly. However, when force is applied to container  100  in order to alter its volume when cover  112  is securely attached to spout  110 , any decrease in volume of container  100  inversely increases the pressure inside container  100 . As such, in the event that cover  112  is securely attached to spout  110  when force is applied to alter the volume of container  100 , tension on sidewall  106 , bottom  102 , and top  104  is increased dramatically due to corresponding increasing pressure inside container  100 . 
     After container  100  is expanded or compressed, but cover  112  is not securely attached to spout  110 , container  100  may compress or expand back to its original state. For example, should a user fill container  100  with a liquid, but not securely attach cover  112  to spout  110 , container  100  may compress back to its original state, ejecting excess liquid from inside container  100 . In another embodiment, however, should a user fill container  100  with a liquid, but not securely attach cover  112  to spout  110 , container  100  may maintain its newly expanded state indefinitely. In another example, should a user compress container  100  to its minimum volume, but not securely attach cover  112  to spout  110 , container  100  may maintain its newly compressed state indefinitely, or may expand back to its original state, depending upon the material used in sidewall  106 . 
     When container  100  is expanded or compressed, and cover  112  is securely attached to spout  110 , container  100  may maintain its new volume state indefinitely. However, in the event that cover  112  is securely attached to spout  110 , but the pressure outside container  100  is substantially altered (e.g. container brought to a high altitude or deep underwater), container  100  may expand or compress, change its volume to match its inside pressure with that outside container  100 . 
       FIG. 1(   c ) illustrates a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1(   c ) shows container  100  from a top view, highlighting top  104 , which comprises a handle  108 , spout  110 , cover  112 , and spout threading  114 . 
     Handle  108  may be securely attached to surface of top  104 . Handle  108  may be composed of a variety of materials including metal, wood, plastics or some other composition or mixture such that handle  108  and container  100  may survive normal usage and wear. Handle  108  may be ergonomically designed so as to allow a user to lift container  100  comfortably. The height, width, depth, and overall size of handle  108  may vary. The options and limitations in handle  108 , however, should not be interpreted so as to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     Handle  108  may be positioned on a distal side of top  104  of container  100  so that little lateral force need be applied by a user in effort to lift container  100  and keep container  100  away from their body. Should a handle be placed at the center of an object for lifting, the angle of a user&#39;s arm away from their body increases as the width of the object increases. The higher the angle of user&#39;s arm away from their body, the more exertion required by user to lift and carry the object due to the increased lateral force required. Thus, by positioning handle  108  on a distal side of top  104 , the angle of the arm of user carrying container  100  away from user&#39;s body remains low. As such, by designing container  100  to keep user&#39;s arm angle low, less exertion by a user is required to lift and carry container  100 , as little or no lateral force would mean that the bulk of a user&#39;s exertion would work towards the counteraction of the weight of container  100 . 
     Spout  110  is an opening in container  100  located on a proximal side of top  104 . Liquid may enter or exit container  100  via spout  110 . In an exemplary embodiment, spout  110  is cylindrical in shape and protrudes outward from the surface of top  104 , away from body of container  100 . Spout  110 , however, need not be cylindrical in shape, and need not protrude a distance outward from top  104 . For example, spout  110  may simply comprise of an opening in container  100  that does not protrude inward or outward from surface of top  104 . 
     The positioning of handle  108  on distal side of top  104  and spout  110  on proximal side of top  104  facilitates easier pouring and filling liquid from and to container  100 . For example, if handle  108  were positioned adjacent to spout  110 , should container  100  be held or lifted by a user, then a user&#39;s arm may obstruct spout  110 , complicating the pouring and filling processes of container  100 . However, with handle  108  positioned on a distal side of top  104 , and spout  110  on a proximal side of top  104 , a user&#39;s arm would not obstruct spout  110  should container  100  be held or lifted by handle  108 . As such, with handle  108  positioned on a distal side of top  104 , and spout  110  on a proximal side of top  104 , a user may pour liquid from container  100 , or fill container  100 , without obstruction. Thus, the positioning of handle  108  and spout  110  facilitate the filling and pouring process of container  100 . 
     Spout  110  may be securely sealed by cover  112 . In an exemplary embodiment, spout  110  and cover  112  may create a pressurized seal, pressurizing the contents of container  100 . Cover  112  is designed so as to attach to and detach from spout  110 . Cover  112 , in an exemplary embodiment of container  100 , has the shape of an inverted cup, securely fitting to the cup shape of spout  110 . The inside diameter of cover  112  may be at least equal to the out diameter of spout  110 . Cover  112  may include an inner threading. 
     Spout  110  may include spout threading  114 . Spout threading  114  is threading on the outer surface of spout  110  such that cover  112  may securely attach to spout  110 , provided that cover  112  has corresponding threading. In another embodiment, however, spout  110  does not have spout threading  114 , and cover  112  may securely attach to spout  110  by a snapping mechanism. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of another exemplary embodiment of a container, comprising a bottom, a top, and a sidewall attached to the bottom and the top to form an enclosure that is adapted to support a liquid.  FIG. 2  illustrates container  200 , which includes bottom  202 , top  204 , and sidewall  206 , which is adapted to support a liquid, wherein the sidewall is configured to have both a compressible and expandable configuration. 
     In this alternative embodiment, container  200  is a compressible and expandable container, wherein top  204  includes top body  205 , which is a vertical sidewall layer extending downward, orthogonal to the plane of top  204 . In this embodiment, spout  210  extends horizontally outward from sidewall  206 , located on surface of top body  205 . Sidewall  206  is securely attached to bottom  202  and top body  205  such that container  200  may support a liquid. The placement of spout  210  on top body  205  allows for easier pouring in certain situations, such as pouring gasoline into a car fuel tank without the use of a funnel. Additionally, the placement of spout  210  on top body  205  permits handle  208  to be located at center of top  204 . Handle  208 , however, may be placed at any position on top  204 , and thus the location of handle  208  on container  200  should not be interpreted so as to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     A compressible and expandable container has been described. The foregoing description of the various exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and disclosure. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims.