COLLAPSIBLE BOTTLE

• US 20130292355A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carlson, Brian P., Anderson, Troy A., Lausted, Matthew D., Pelkey, John T., Keilman, Bryce A., Bangi, Monis
• Granted Patent: US 9,126,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 215/381
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0223 characterised by shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0292 Foldable bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2501/0018 Ribs
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2501/0036 Hollow circonferential ribs
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2501/0081 Bottles of non-circular cross-section

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to rigid, collapsible bottles that may be drained of their contents by gravity. The structural features of the bottle design help facilitate controlled bottle collapse.

Claims

1. A collapsible bottle comprising:

a unitary molded body comprising a plurality of panels defining an interior chamber, wherein the plurality of panels comprise;

an outlet end panel;

a base panel located on a side of the body opposite the outlet;

two planar side panels connecting the outlet end panel and the base panel;

a planar rear panel connected to each of the outlet end panel, the base panel, and the two planar side panels;

a front panel opposite the planar rear panel, wherein the front panel comprises a flat surface and a plurality of curved faceted surfaces connected to the outlet end panel, the base panel, and the two planar side panels; and

an outlet integrally formed with the outlet end panel so as to provide access to the interior chamber.

2. The collapsible bottle of claim 1, wherein the flat surface of the front panel defines a square shape and wherein the flat surface of the front panel is recessed relative to the plurality of curved faceted surfaces.

3. The collapsible bottle of claim 1, wherein the flat surface of the front panel defines a square shape and wherein the flat surface of the front panel protrudes outward relative to the plurality of curved faceted surfaces.

4. The collapsible bottle of claim 1, wherein the flat surface is substantially surrounded by the plurality of curved faceted surfaces.

5. The collapsible bottle of claim 1, wherein at least one planar side panel at least partially defines a slot.

6. The collapsible bottle of claim 5, wherein the slot is at least partially defined by both the at least one planar side panel and at least one curved faceted surface.

7. The collapsible bottle of claim 5, wherein the slot comprises a plurality of slots.

8. The collapsible bottle of claim 1, wherein the molded body comprises plastic.

9. The collapsible bottle of claim 1, wherein the molded body comprises a first thickness proximate a connection interface of the base panel and the front panel and wherein the outlet end panel defines a second thickness greater than the first thickness.

10. The collapsible bottle of claim 1, wherein at least a first portion of the molded body comprises a minimum thickness and a second portion of the molded body comprises a maximum thickness of about 10 times the minimum thickness.

11. The collapsible bottle of claim 1,

wherein the bottle comprises an expanded condition and a collapsed condition,

wherein when in the expanded condition, the interior chamber comprises a maximum volume and wherein when in the collapsed condition, the interior chamber comprises a minimum volume, and

wherein the minimum volume comprises no more than about 20 percent of the maximum volume.

12. The collapsible bottle of claim 11, wherein the minimum volume comprises no more than about 10 percent of the maximum volume.

13. The collapsible bottle of claim 11, wherein the minimum volume is obtained by subjecting the interior chamber to a vacuum pressure of about 0 to −

1 bar for about 0.05 seconds.