Fully eversible beverage receptacle

Abstract

An elastomeric containment receptacle has at least one sidewall defining a container substantially surrounding and enclosing a predetermined volume for housing a substance to be contained within the receptacle. The at least one sidewall includes a substance-contacting surface. The receptacle is reversibly transformable between a first stable conformation, wherein the substance-contacting surface faces inward, and a second stable conformation, wherein the substance-contacting surface faces outward. In other words, the receptacle is fully eversible, allowing for facile cleaning and drying of the receptacle interior. The receptacle possesses sufficient structural strength to stand without extraneous support. The eversible receptacle can be adapted to serve as a nursing bottle or other beverage receptacle. The receptacle can include a nipple or other receptacle cap, and an attachment joint for securing the cap to the elastomeric receptacle.

1 . A receptacle for containing a substance comprising:
 at least one sidewall having a contoured non-linear shape defining a container substantially surrounding and enclosing a predetermined volume for housing the substance contained within the receptacle, wherein the at least one sidewall includes a substance-contacting surface, wherein the container is reversibly eversible, such that the container reversibly transforms between a first stable conformation sufficiently stable to stand upright, wherein the substance-contacting surface faces inward, and a second stable conformation sufficiently stable to stand upright, wherein the substance-contacting surface faces outward; and   a buckle region of the sidewall extending peripherally adjacent to a lower portion of the container allowing the buckle region to strategically deform making eversion of the container easier.   
     
     
         2 . The receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the receptacle is resilient, and has sufficient yield strain to prevent permanent deformation and fatigue failure of sidewall material after repeated eversions. 
     
     
         3 . A receptacle for containing a substance comprising:
 at least one elastomeric sidewall having a contoured non-linear shape defining a container having a first surface, the container being reversibly eversible between first and second stable conformations, the first stable conformation defined by the first surface facing inward, and the second stable conformation defined by the first surface facing outward, the at least one elastomeric sidewall having resilience, wherein each of the first and second stable conformations is sufficiently stable to stand upright with no additional support, and having sufficient yield strain to prevent permanent deformation and fatigue failure of the elastomeric sidewall after repeated eversions; and   a buckle region of the sidewall extending peripherally adjacent to a lower portion of the container allowing the buckle region to strategically deform making eversion of the container easier.   
     
     
         4 . A receptacle for containing a substance comprising:
 a containment element including a contiguous containment wall having a contoured non-linear shape defining an open end, the contiguous containment wall having a first surface, the containment wall being composed substantially of an elastomeric material, the containment element being reversibly eversible, wherein the containment element reversibly transforms between a normal stable conformation with the first surface facing inward, and an everted stable conformation with the first surface facing outward, wherein each of the first and second stable conformations is sufficiently stable to stand upright; and   a buckle region of the sidewall extending peripherally adjacent to a lower portion of the container allowing the buckle region to strategically deform making eversion of the container easier.   
     
     
         5 . The receptacle of  claim 4  further comprising:
 a capping element having an attachable surface to removably cover the open end of the containment element when in the normal stable conformation where the first surface faces inward. 
 
     
     
         6 . The receptacle of  claim 5  further comprising:
 an attachment member to reversibly join the capping element to the open end of the containment element and provide a fluid tight seal between the capping element and the containment element. 
 
     
     
         7 . The receptacle of  claim 6 , wherein the attachment member includes a rigid sleeve of a size to encircle the containment element, wherein a perimeter of the open end has an engagement lip releasably engageable with the attachment member for reversibly and sealingly engaging the capping element. 
     
     
         8 . The receptacle of  claim 4 , wherein the containment wall of the containment element further comprises:
 a sidewall contiguous with the open end, and an end wall contiguous with the sidewall opposite from the open end.   
     
     
         9 . The receptacle of  claim 8 , wherein the end wall further comprises:
 a conical indentation, extending into an interior of the receptacle when in the normal stable conformation.   
     
     
         10 . The receptacle of  claim 4 , wherein the elastomeric material is silicone. 
     
     
         11 . The receptacle of  claim 4 , wherein the elastomeric material has a Young's modulus between approximately 1 megapascal (MPa) to approximately 7 megapascal (MPa). 
     
     
         12 . The receptacle of  claim 4  further comprising:
 a capping element having a nipple shaped surface with an outwardly projecting annular flange portion; and 
 an attachment member including a first rigid sleeve having an inwardly-facing threaded portion adjacent one end, the first rigid sleeve of a size to encircle the nipple shaped surface while engaging with the annular flange portion of the capping element and fit over the open end of the containment element, and a second rigid sleeve having an outwardly-facing complementary threaded portion and of a size to be fit within the threaded portion of the first sleeve, such that when the threaded portions of the first and second sleeves are juxtaposed with respect to one another, and the threaded portions of the first and second sleeves are engaged and tightened via rotary displacement, a fluid tight seal is formed between the annular flange portion of the capping element and the open end of the containment element. 
 
     
     
         13 . The receptacle of  claim 4  further comprising:
 a capping element having a rigid body with a first threaded portion, a protruding passage defining an aperture formed in the rigid body, and a cover element for reversibly covering the protruding passage defining the aperture, the covering element attached to the capping element; and 
 an attachment member having a rigid sleeve with a second threaded portion complementary to the first threaded portion, and wherein the sleeve is of a size to fit over the open end of the containment element, such that when the threaded portions of the capping element and attachment member are engaged and tightened via rotary displacement, the capping element and the open end of the containment element are reversibly brought into contact. 
 
     
     
         14 . The receptacle of  claim 4 , wherein the buckle region of the containment wall further comprises:
 a buckle point defined by a region of the containment wall having a first wall thickness, where the buckle point having the first wall thickness is less than a second wall thickness of other portions of the containment wall.   
     
     
         15 . The receptacle of  claim 14 , wherein the buckle point includes the first wall thickness of approximately 1.5 millimeter (mm), and other portions of the containment wall includes the second wall thickness of at least approximately 2 millimeter (mm). 
     
     
         16 . The receptacle of  claim 4 , wherein the buckle region of the containment wall further comprises:
 a buckle point defined by a region of the containment wall having a first Young's modulus less than a second Young's modulus of other portions of the containment wall.   
     
     
         17 . The receptacle of  claim 4 , wherein the containment element is resilient, and has sufficient yield strain to prevent permanent deformation and fatigue failure of the containment wall after repeated eversions. 
     
     
         18 . The receptacle of  claim 4 , wherein the sidewall further comprises ridges defined by annular regions of increased sidewall thickness relative to other portions of the sidewall. 
     
     
         19 . The receptacle of  claim 4 , wherein the containment wall further comprises inserts of rigid material. 
     
     
         20 . The receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the buckle region further comprises:
 one of a decreased thickness region relative to other portions of the sidewall and a decreased Young's modulus relative to other portions of the sidewall.