Collapsible container handle configuration

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 contained product comprising:
 a collapsible container comprising:
 a support portion; 
 a handle portion connected to said support portion on top of said support portion; 
 a collapsible portion connected to the support portion such that an internal volume is defined between the support portion and the collapsible portion; 
 wherein the collapsible portion is moveable between an expanded condition and a collapsed condition; 
 wherein when said collapsible portion is in said collapsed condition the collapsible portion is inverted into the internal cavity to form an outwardly facing concavity; 
   a concentrated product disposed in an internal volume of the collapsible container when the collapsible portion is in said collapsed condition.   
     
     
         2 . The contained product of  claim 1  wherein said handle is offset from a central axis of the container. 
     
     
         3 . The contained product of  claim 1  wherein the support portion includes a dispenser and the handle is positioned adjacent to the dispenser. 
     
     
         4 . The contained product of  claim 1  wherein the handle is hollow. 
     
     
         5 . The contained product of  claim 1  wherein the support portion, the collapsible portion, and the handle are all made from one material having uniform properties. 
     
     
         6 . The contained product of  claim 5  wherein said one material is a blend of Low Density Polyethylene and High Density Polyethylene. 
     
     
         7 . The contained product of  claim 1  wherein the collapsible portion is configured such that adding water to the collapsible container when the collapsible portion is in the collapsed condition causes the collapsible portion to move to the expanded position. 
     
     
         8 . The contained product of  claim 1  further comprising a seal that is applied to the collapsible container immediately upon addition of said concentrated product to said internal volume of the collapsible container such that a vacuum forms in said collapsible container due to an increase in internal volume caused by the force of adding said concentrated product. 
     
     
         9 . A contained product comprising:
 a collapsible container comprising:
 a support portion; 
 a dispenser disposed on top of said support portion; 
 a hollow handle portion connected to said support portion on top of said support portion, wherein in a first end of said hollow handle is in fluid communication with said support portion adjacent to said dispenser and a second end of said hollow handle is in fluid communication with said support portion at a second location spaced apart from said dispenser; 
 a collapsible portion connected to the support portion such that an internal volume is defined between the support portion and the collapsible portion; 
 wherein the collapsible portion is moveable between an expanded condition and a collapsed condition; 
 wherein when said collapsible portion is in said collapsed condition the collapsible portion is inverted into the internal cavity of the support portion to reduce said internal volume of the collapsible container and to faun an outwardly facing concavity; 
   a concentrated product disposed in an internal volume of the collapsible container when the collapsible portion is in said collapsed condition.   
     
     
         10 . The contained product of  claim 9  wherein said handle is offset from a central axis of the container. 
     
     
         11 . The contained product of  claim 9  wherein the support portion, the dispenser, the collapsible portion, and the handle are made from one material having uniform properties. 
     
     
         12 . The contained product of  claim 11  wherein said one material is a blend of Low Density Polyethylene and High Density Polyethylene. 
     
     
         13 . The contained product of  claim 9  wherein the collapsible portion is configured such that adding water to the collapsible container when the collapsible portion is in the collapsed condition causes the collapsible portion to move to the expanded position. 
     
     
         14 . The contained product of  claim 9  further comprising a seal that is applied to the collapsible container immediately upon addition of said concentrated product to said internal volume of the collapsible container such that a vacuum forms in said collapsible container due to an increase in internal volume caused by the force of adding said concentrated product. 
     
     
         15 . A collapsible container comprising:
 a support portion;   a dispenser disposed on top of said support portion;   a hollow handle portion connected to said support portion on top of said support portion, wherein in a first end of said hollow handle is in fluid communication with said support portion adjacent to said dispenser and a second end of said hollow handle is in fluid communication with said support portion at a second location spaced apart from said dispenser;   a collapsible portion connected to the support portion such that an internal volume is defined between the support portion and the collapsible portion;   wherein the collapsible portion is moveable between a expanded condition and a collapsed condition;   wherein when said collapsible portion is in said collapsed condition the collapsible portion is inverted into the internal cavity of the support portion to reduce said internal volume of the collapsible container and to form an outwardly facing concavity.   
     
     
         16 . The collapsible container of  claim 15  wherein said handle is offset from a central axis of the container. 
     
     
         17 . The collapsible container of  claim 15  wherein the support portion, the dispenser, the collapsible portion, and the handle are made from one material having uniform properties. 
     
     
         18 . The collapsible container of  claim 17  wherein said one material is a blend of Low Density Polyethylene and High Density Polyethylene. 
     
     
         19 . The collapsible container of  claim 15  wherein the collapsible portion is configured such that adding water to the collapsible container when the collapsible portion is in the collapsed condition causes the collapsible portion to move to the expanded position. 
     
     
         20 . The contained product of  claim 15  further comprising a seal that is applied to the collapsible container immediately upon addition of a concentrated product to said internal volume of the collapsible container such that a vacuum forms in said collapsible container due to an increase in internal volume caused by the force of adding said concentrated product.