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Self-erecting container apparatus

  • US 6,253,993 B1
  • Filed: 05/06/1999
  • Issued: 07/03/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A self-erecting container apparatus for rapid deployment into articulation, and for the facilitated containment and dispensing of fluid articles, said self-erecting beverage container apparatus comprising:

  • a bottom panel having two opposed end edges and two opposed side edges;

    two end panels, each of which end panels emanate from a respective end edge of the bottom panel, each of said end panels having two opposed side edge regions and a top edge region;

    two side panels, each of which side panels emanate from a respective side edge of the bottom panel, each of said side panels having two opposed side edge regions and a top edge region;

    at least one of said bottom panel, said two end panels, and two side panels having at least one aperture oriented therethrough;

    a plurality of lines of weakness disposed between the bottom panel and the end panels and between the bottom panel and the side panels, respectively;

    at least one paired corner panel, one panel of each corner panel pair emanating from the side edge region of at least one of said end panels, and the other panel of each corner panel pair emanating from the side edge region of at least one of said side panels substantially adjacent to said at least one end panel;

    a line of weakness disposed between the panels of said at least one pair of corner panels;

    said at least one paired corner panel being folded into a position overlaying and substantially juxtaposed and affixed to at least one of said side panels and said end panels, to create, at least in part, at least one container pocket having a substantially collapsed orientation, such that raising at least one of the end and side panels toward positions substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel causes one of said adjacent side and end panels to be drawn by the affixed corner panel pairs to prompt said container pocket toward a substantially upright orientation, thus operably expanding the size of said container pocket;

    a bag operably positioned in said container pocket in at least one of said substantially collapsed and said substantially upright orientations, said bag being capable of containing fluid articles;

    a nozzle, having at least two ends, operably associated with said bag so as to facilitate at least one of filling and dispensing fluid articles into and from said bag, and, in turn, into and from said container, said nozzle being positionable within and through said aperture.

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