Reusable Containers with Clean-Seam Interface

• US 20100288759A1
• Filed: 09/16/2009
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nice Reusables, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nice Reusables, Inc.
• Inventors: Hotell, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 8,684,208 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/23.83
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0209 stackable or joined together one-upon-the-other in the upright or upside-down position B65D21/0234, B65D21/0235 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 7/04 of curved cross-section, e.g. cans of circular or elliptical cross-section thermally insulated B65D81/3813, B65D81/3837
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/80 Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging bio-packaging Y02W90/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53 Means to assemble or disassemble

Abstract

A container assembly for storing foodstuffs or liquids has an annular upper body including a fist end adapted to receive a cap, and a second open end culminating in a flange, an annular lower body including a first open end culminating in a flange and a second closed end, the lower body disposed in vertical alignment beneath the upper body, an annular seal disposed between the flanges of the upper and lower bodies for sealing the upper and lower bodies together, a first threaded collar affixed to or slidable over the upper body, and a second threaded collar affixed to or slidable over the lower body, the first and second collars threaded together at opposite sides of the seal, compressing the seal between the flanges and securing the upper and lower bodies together.

Claims

1. A container assembly for storing foodstuffs or liquids comprising:

a annular upper body including a first end adapted to receive a cap, and a second open end culminating in a flange;

a annular lower body including a first open end culminating in a flange and a second closed end;

the lower body disposed in vertical alignment beneath the upper body;

an annular seal disposed between the flanges of the upper and lower bodies for sealing the upper and lower bodies together;

a first threaded collar affixed to or slidable over the upper body; and

a second threaded collar affixed to or slidable over the lower body, the first and second collars threaded together at opposite sides of the seal, compressing the seal between the flanges and securing the upper and lower bodies together.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the upper and lower bodies are manufactured of a stainless steel.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein the seal is silicone and the first and second threaded collars are plastic.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein the first collar as internal threading and the second collar has external threading the collars to be threaded together.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein the first end of the upper body is domed to a bottleneck opening threaded to receive a threaded cap.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein the first end of the upper body is open and threaded to receive a threaded cover.

7. The container of claim 1 wherein the upper body is smaller in diameter than the lower body and fits into the lower body in an inverted position.

8. The container of claim 1 wherein the lower body is smaller in diameter than the upper body and fits into the upper body in an inverted position.

9. The container of claim 1 wherein the second threaded collar includes a bottom step for abutting against the first threaded collar maintaining a small gap between the collars when fully threaded together the gap maintaining the integrity of the seal.

10. The container of claim 1 in the form of a canteen when assembled.

11. The container of claim 1 in the form of a bottle when assembled.

12. The container of claim 1 in the form of a food container when assembled.

13. The container of claim 7 further including an annular seat, the annular seat threaded and affixed to the closed end of the lower body and substantially in line with the opening of the upper body wherein when the upper body is nested into the lower body the cap is used to secure the upper body to the lower body by threading the cap to the annular seat.

14. The container of claim 8 wherein the lower body and upper body are held together in nested configuration by the threaded collars.

15. A method for securing two container bodies together at a seal point the container bodies flanged at their interfacing ends comprising the steps:

(a) aligning the two container bodies flange to flange;

(b) placing a seal between the flanges; and

(c) using threaded collars affixed to the flanges or slid over the bodies and seating against the flanges, threading the collars together to secure the container bodies together against the seal.

16. The method of claim 16 wherein each flange has at least one rearward extending fin that engages a slot extending around the threaded collar retaining the collars at the location of the flanges.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the seal is silicone.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the secured container bodies form one of a canteen, a bottle, or a food container.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the threaded collars leave a gap when fully threaded together to protect the integrity of the seal.