Containers with variable volume

• US 6,484,897 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2000
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amcad Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Amcad Holdings Limited
• Inventors: Crawley, Alan Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): NEWHOUSE, NATHAN JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US09/619,765
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 215/20, 215/307, 215/311, 215/900, 215/11.3, 215/379, 215/382, 220/578, 220/580, 220/216, 220/227, 220/367.1, 220/8
• US Class Current: 215/307
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0292 Foldable bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 11/04 Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures designed for pouring contents thermally insulated B65D81/3837
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/086 Collapsible or telescopic containers B65D1/0292 and B65D21/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/06 Liquids or semi-liquids or other materials or articles enclosed in flexible containers disposed within rigid containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/24 Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants with thermal insulation B65D81/38

Abstract

A container of variable volume includes an inner flexible member substantially enclosed in a number of interlocking outer sleeves. The volume of the container can be varied by moving at least one outer sleeve relative to another outer sleeve. The outer sleeves are moved to vary the volume of the container by rotating screw-threaded outer sleeves, moving an outer sleeve relative to another by a ratchet, or by using a multi-level bayonet type connection.

Claims

1. A variable volume container and cap assembly, the container including means allowing the internal volume thereof to be varied and the cap including a closure and skirt, the skirt having a float and a button assembly arranged so that when the volume of the container is decreased and a flowable material in the internal volume reaches the float, the float gradually shuts off a passage between an outer edge of the skirt and an inner surface of the closure, the air escaping through the passage between the outer edge of the skirt and the inner surface of the closure.

19. A container and cap assembly according to claim 1 wherein the container includes an inner flexible member substantially enclosed in a number of interlocking sleeves wherein a volume of the inner flexible member is varied by moving at least one outer sleeve relative to another outer sleeve, and adjacent outer sleeves are only separable by release of an interlocking mechanism, the interlocking mechanism being such that the interlocking mechanism allows the container to telescope whilst remaining integral with the container.

2. A container and cap assembly according to claim wherein the container includes an inner flexible member substantially enclosed in a number of interlocking sleeves wherein a volume of the inner flexible member is varied by moving at least one outer sleeve relative to another outer sleeve, and adjacent outer sleeves are inseparable.

3. A container and cap assembly according to claim 2, wherein the sleeves are telescoping sleeves.

4. A container and cap assembly according to claim 3, further comprising an upper outer sleeve and a lower outer sleeve.

5. A container and cap assembly according to claim 4, wherein the upper outer sleeve has an externally threaded opening.

6. A container and cap assembly according to claim 5, wherein the inner flexible member is fixed to the base of the lower outer sleeve.

7. A container and cap assembly according to claim 6, wherein the inner flexible member is permanently secured to the upper outer sleeve.

8. A container and cap assembly according to claim 6, wherein a lip of the inner flexible member protrudes through the externally threaded opening so as to provide a seal between the inner flexible member and the cap.

9. A container and cap assembly according to claim 6, wherein the outer sleeves are screw threaded together.

10. A container and cap assembly according to claim 6, wherein the outer sleeves move relative to each other by a ratchet.

11. A container and cap assembly according to claim 10, wherein the upper sleeve includes at least two sets of externally projecting teeth.

12. A container and cap assembly according to claim 11, wherein a pawl handle on the lower sleeve is provided for each set of externally projecting teeth.

13. A container and cap assembly according to claim 12, wherein movement of the handle between teeth causes the ratchet to be released, and hence the volume of the container to increase.

14. A container and cap assembly according to claim 11, wherein rotation of the upper and lower sleeves enables the volume of the container to be varied.

15. A container and cap assembly according to claim 6, wherein outer sleeves move relative to each other by a multi-level bayonet connection.

16. A container and cap assembly according to claim 15, wherein the bayonet connection is formed in one of the lower and the upper sleeve with at least two sets of shaped grooves, each set of grooves comprising a plurality of transverse grooves connected by a longitudinal groove.

17. A container and cap assembly according to claim 16, wherein at least two pin members extend from one of the lower and upper sleeve and each pin member fits into a set of shaped grooves in the other sleeve.

18. A container and cap assembly according to claim 17, wherein rotation of the upper and lower sleeves causes the pin member to move in a twist or push/pull action between the transverse grooves by the longitudinal groove and hence to vary the volume of the container.