Semi-collapsible container

Abstract

A semi-collapsible container has a hollow body with support and collapsible portions, and can be maintained in a collapsed or an expanded condition. The container is useful for storing liquid, and is especially adapted in its collapsed condition for storing relatively small volumes of concentrated liquid, powders or the like, and in its expanded condition for containing larger volumes of liquid. Via a dispenser in the container, a closure assembly is coupled to the container for securing the contents thereof from leakage.

1 . A semi-collapsible container capable of moving between a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, the container defining 
 a hollow interior that is defined at least in part by a side wall, the hollow interior capable of storing liquid when the container is in both its collapsed and expanded conditions,    a dispenser communicating with the hollow interior,    a base forming a portion of the hollow interior of the container, the base being capable of non-movably supporting the container when the container is filled with liquid in both its collapsed and expanded conditions,    a frame forming a portion of the side wall of the container, the frame maintaining the dispenser in a fixed position with respect to the base regardless if the container is in its collapsed or expanded condition, and    at least one collapsible portion cooperating with the base and frame to define the hollow interior of the container.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container defines a height, width, depth and a front profile, the container being collapsible so that the front profile of the container is essentially the same regardless of whether the container is in its collapsed or expanded condition.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the frame and the base are essentially rigid.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the collapsible portion is defined by a flexible side wall of the container.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the collapsible portion includes a flexible rear wall of the container.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible portion is received inside the frame when the container is in its collapsed condition.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the collapsible portion and the frame together define an outwardly facing concavity when the container is in its collapsed condition.  
   
   
       8 . A product comprising the container of  claim 1  and a powder, liquid concentrate or both in the hollow interior of the container, the container being in its collapsed condition.  
   
   
       9 . A process for forming a mixture comprising a liquid diluent and a powder, liquid concentrate or both, the process comprising charging a liquid diluent into the container of the product of  claim 8 .  
   
   
       10 . A product comprising the container of  claim 1  and a mixture in the hollow interior of the container, the mixture comprising a liquid diluent and a powder, liquid concentrate or both, the container being in its expanded condition.  
   
   
       11 . A product comprising the container of  claim 7  and a component in the outwardly facing concavity, the component selected from the group consisting of tools for use with the container, such as pumps, measuring cups or spoons, dispensing containers, additional caps and the like, product instructions, promotional items, such as coupons, juice glasses, children's toys, and other items that appeal to consumers, and combinations of these.  
   
   
       12 . A semi-collapsible container comprising: a hollow body of thermoplastic material having an upper end with a dispenser therein, a support portion having an interior cavity, and a collapsible portion adapted to move between a substantially expanded condition and a substantially collapsed condition in which the collapsible portion is inverted into the interior cavity of the support portion.  
   
   
       13 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 12 , comprising a hinge between the support portion and the collapsible portion.  
   
   
       14 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the hinge is a living hinge.  
   
   
       15 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the hinge is substantially V shaped or substantially Z shaped.  
   
   
       16 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 12 , comprising a lower support base in communication with the support portion.  
   
   
       17 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 12 , the container having an overall substantially cylindrical shape.  
   
   
       18 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the support portion forms at least one half of the container and wherein the collapsible portion forms not more than one half of the container.  
   
   
       19 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the upper end and the lower support base are on the support portion.  
   
   
       20 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the lower support base is substantially rectangular in shape.  
   
   
       21 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the support portion has a substantially flat surface connected to rounded sides.  
   
   
       22 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the lower support base is connected to the substantially flat surface and rounded sides of the support portion via a beveled edge.  
   
   
       23 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the lower support base is connected to the substantially flat surface and rounded sides of the support portion at substantially a  90  degree angle.  
   
   
       24 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the collapsible portion has a substantially cylindrical face, a domed top, and a flattened bottom.  
   
   
       25 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 12 , the container having at least one handle.  
   
   
       26 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein the handle is offset from a central axis of the container.  
   
   
       27 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the handle is positioned on the upper end and is adjacent to the dispenser.  
   
   
       28 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 12 , the upper end having the approximate shape of a dome, with the dispenser positioned at the top of the dome.  
   
   
       29 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 12 , the dispenser comprising a closure means for receiving a closure assembly, the closure means comprising threads.  
   
   
       31 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the support portion is made from a material that is different from that of the collapsible portion.  
   
   
       32 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein the materials of the support and collapsible portions differ in at least one of the properties of rigidity, flexibility, elasticity, thermal and chemical resistance, electrical resistance/conductance, mechanical abrasion resistance, catalytic surface activity, color, transparency/opacity, reflectivity, and texture.  
   
   
       33 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein the material of the support portion is more rigid than that of the collapsible portion.  
   
   
       34 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the container is made from a thermoplastic material selected from the group of PET, PP, PE, HDPE, LDPE, PVC, PC, PETG, and combinations of two or more thereof.  
   
   
       35 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 34 , wherein the material of the support portion comprises a blend of LDPE and HDPE, and wherein the material of the collapsible portion comprises one of LDPE and a blend of LDPE and HDPE.  
   
   
       36 . A semi-collapsible container in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the container is formed by an extrusion blow molding process.  
   
   
       37 . A process for making a semi-collapsible blow molded article, the process comprising: 
 forming a parison from at least one polymeric resinous material;    positioning the parison in a blow mold having an inner shape that defines the shape of the article to include at least one support portion and at least one collapsible portion, and introducing air into the parison to force the parison to conform to the inner shape of the mold;    processing the blown article, including the steps, in any order, of removing the article from the mold and inverting a collapsible portion of the article into an interior space within a support portion of the article.    
   
   
       38 . A process for making a semi-collapsible blow molded article according to  claim 37 , wherein the parison is formed from at least two different polymeric resinous materials, at least one of which materials is positioned in the parison in a location that corresponds with the inner shape of the mold that defines the at least one support portion, and another of which materials is positioned in the parison in a location that corresponds with the inner shape of the mold that defines the at least one collapsible portion.  
   
   
       39 . A process for making a semi-collapsible blow molded article according to  claim 38 , wherein each of the polymeric resinous materials differs from the other(s) in at least one of the properties of rigidity, flexibility, elasticity, thermal and chemical resistance, electrical resistance/conductance, mechanical abrasion resistance, catalytic surface activity, color, transparency/opacity, reflectivity, and texture.  
   
   
       40 . A process for making a semi-collapsible blow molded article according to  claim 33 , wherein the material(s) positioned in the parison in a location that corresponds with the inner shape of the mold that defines the at least one non-collapsible portion comprises a blend of LDPE and HDPE, and wherein the material(s) positioned in the parison in a location that corresponds with the inner shape of the mold that defines the at least one collapsible portion comprises one of LDPE and a blend of LDPE and HDPE.