Collapsible Container

Abstract

A container including a plurality of material bands each having a thickness that is less than adjacent areas of the container, the plurality of material bands extending along a base and a body of the container. The plurality of material bands are configured as folding points of the container. The container is configured to collapse along the plurality of material bands such that at least two dimensions of the container are 5 cm or greater. The base is configured to collapse along the plurality of material bands to have a generally flat body and a generally flat base that is 1.4 times wider than a pre-collapsed diameter of the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a base;   a body extending from the base;   a finish defining an opening, a longitudinal axis of the container extends through an axial center of each of the opening, the body, and the base;   a shoulder between the finish and the body; and   a plurality of material bands each having a thickness that is less than adjacent areas of the container, the plurality of material bands extending along the base and the body, the plurality of material bands configured as folding points of the container;   wherein the container is configured to collapse along the plurality of material bands such that at least two dimensions of the container are 5 cm or greater; and   wherein the base is configured to collapse along the plurality of material bands to have a generally flat body and a generally flat base that is 1.4 times wider than a pre-collapsed diameter of the base.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container has a capacity of about 50 ml or greater. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of material bands has a thickness that is about 58%-75% less than the adjacent areas of the container. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of material bands extend along the body parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of material bands extend continuously from the base, across a heel, across the body, and to the shoulder. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is blow molded from an injection molded preform having core geometry configured to form the plurality of material bands. 
     
     
         7 . A container comprising:
 a base;   a body;   a heel between the base and the body;   a finish defining an opening, a longitudinal axis of the container extends through an axial center of each of the opening, the body, and the base;   a shoulder between the finish and the body;   a neck extending from the shoulder to the finish; and   a plurality of material bands each having a thickness that is less than adjacent areas of the container, the plurality of material bands extending along each of the base, the heel, the body, the shoulder, and the neck;   wherein the container is configured to collapse along the plurality of material bands such that at least two dimensions of the container are 5 cm or greater.   
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the container has a capacity of about 50 ml or greater. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein each one of the plurality of material bands has a thickness that is about 58%-75% less than the adjacent areas of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of material bands are configured as folding points of the container. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein at least two of the plurality of material bands extend along the body parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of material bands are evenly spaced apart. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein at least two of the plurality of material bands extend along the base perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein at least two of the plurality of material bands are adjacent. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein at least two of the plurality of material bands intersect. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of material bands extend continuously from the base, across the heel, across the body, and to the shoulder. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of material bands extend discontinuously from the base, across the heel, across the body, and to the shoulder. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the container is blow molded from an injection molded preform having core geometry configured to form the plurality of material bands. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the container is configured to collapse along the plurality of material bands to have a generally flat body and a generally flat base. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the base is configured to collapse along the plurality of material bands to a width that is 1.4 times greater than a pre-collapsed diameter of the base.