Soft container

Abstract

A flexible container assembly that combines insulation, ease-of-carrying, and user-friendly drinking and is packaged to offer a wide range of style choices. The container assembly includes protection of mouth-contacting surfaces, easy cleaning, and spill protection among the other advantages. The invention comprises of a flexible container featuring a neck that seals upon folding itself into a downward position and works with a sealable mouthpiece at its top end to prevent the outflow of fluids. The container of the assembly uses a wide-mouth screw-port base to enable easier filling and cleaning. The assembly utilizes an integrated insulating flexible cover which features securable openings to access the bottle ports, as well as carrying handles, finger loops, attachment hooks, and pockets.

1 . A container comprising:
 a hollow, flexible body;   a flexible neck at an upper portion of the body, the neck configured to fold in a downward position toward the body;   a first opening at a distal end of the neck;   a retainer for holding the neck in the downward position; and   a base.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the neck has a narrower cross-section than a cross-section of the body. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container has a second opening at a lower end of the body, and a base that is removably receivable with the lower end of the body. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the neck is configured to be more pliable than the body. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the neck further comprises a groove, wherein the groove is configured to reduce the torque required to position the neck in a downward position. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the neck further comprises side walls configured to be thinner than the body of the container. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a mouthpiece mountable to the first opening of the neck. 
     
     
         8 . A cover for use with the container of  claim 1 , the cover comprising:
 a cover body receiving the body of the container, wherein an upper portion of the cover body is configured to cover the first opening of the neck.   
     
     
         9 . The cover of  claim 8 , wherein the cover is configured to retain the neck of the container in a folded position.
 The cover of  claim 8 , wherein the cover body further comprises a bottom portion configured to cover at least a portion of the bottom surface of the container, wherein the bottom portion of the cover body is removably receivable from the cover body.   
     
     
         10 . The cover of  claim 8 , wherein the cover body further comprises an attachment means for connecting the cover to an object. 
     
     
         11 . The cover of  claim 8 , wherein the upper portion of the cover body further comprises a flap with a proximal end and distal end, the flap configured to connect to the cover body at the proximal end and extend beyond the opening of the neck. 
     
     
         12 . A container assembly, the container assembly comprising:
 a container comprising:
 a hollow, flexible body; 
 a flexible neck at one end of the body, the neck configured to fold in a toward the body; 
 a first opening at a distal end of the neck; 
 a retainer for holding the neck in the folded position; 
 a base 
   a cover coupled with the container, the cover comprising:
 a cover body receiving the body of the container, wherein a portion of the cover body is configured to cover the first opening of the neck. 
   
     
     
         13 . The container assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a neck with a narrower cross section than the cross-section of the body. 
     
     
         14 . The container assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the container has a second opening at the bottom surface, and a base that is removably receivable with the lower end. 
     
     
         15 . The container assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the neck is configured to be more pliable than the body. 
     
     
         16 . The container assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a mouthpiece mountable to the first opening of the neck. 
     
     
         17 . The container assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the cover is configured to retain the neck of the container in a folded position. 
     
     
         18 . The container assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the cover body further comprises a bottom portion configured to cover at least a portion of the bottom surface of the container, the bottom portion being removably receivable from the cover body. 
     
     
         19 . The container assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the cover body further comprises an attachment means for connecting the cover to an object. 
     
     
         20 . A container comprising:
 a body means for holding material, the body having a base;   a flexible neck at an upper portion of the body, the neck configured to fold in a downward position toward the body;   a means for permitting the material to exit through a first opening at a distal end of the neck;   a means for retaining the neck in the downward position.   
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 20 , further comprising a means for reducing the torque required to move the neck in a downward position. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 20 , further comprising a means for controlling the exit of material through the distal end of the neck. 
     
     
         23 . A means for covering the container of  claim 20  comprising:
 a means for receiving the body of the container; and 
 a means for covering the first opening of the neck. 
 
     
     
         24 . The cover means of  claim 23 , further comprising a means for retaining the neck of the container in a folded position. 
     
     
         25 . The cover means of  claim 23 , wherein the cover body further comprises an attachment means for connecting the cover to an object.