COLLAPSIBLE AND DISPOSABLE CONTAINER
A container has a body constructed by a front panel, a rear panel, a top panel, two side panels and a bottom panel. An opening is defined in the top panel and is closed by a cap. Each one of the front, rear and top panels has a thickness larger than that of each one of the side and bottom panels. The top panel has a top folding groove defined in the top panel along a direction perpendicular to the side panels. The bottom panel has a bottom reinforced rib having a bottom folding groove defined in the bottom reinforced rib and parallel with the top folding groove in the top panel. Accordingly, the container that is easily collapsible and recycled.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a container, and more particularly to a collapsible and disposable container for beverages or the like.
2. Description of Related Art
Tetra Pak packages is widely used containers for beverages or food. However, the Tetra Pak packages are difficult for recycling because a Tetra Pak package comprises multiple layers of aluminum films, papers and plastic films. In addition, a conventional Tetra Pak package has to be torn off before being folded for reducing spaces for recycling or reclaiming process. However, some parts of the conventional Tetra Pak package are bent and connected by glue or adhesive, to tear of the conventional package is difficult and time-consuming.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide a container to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe main objective of the invention is to provide a container that is easily collapsible. The container has a body constructed by a front panel, a rear panel, a top panel, two side panels and a bottom panel. An opening is defined in the top panel and is closed by a cap. Each one of the front, rear and top panels has a thickness larger than that of each one of the side and bottom panels. The top panel has a top folding groove defined in the top panel along a direction perpendicular to the side panels. The bottom panel has a bottom reinforced rib having a bottom folding groove defined in the bottom reinforced rib and parallel with the top folding groove in the top panel.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
With reference to
The front panel (30,30A) has a top connected to one end of the top panel (50,50A), and the rear panel (40,40A) has a top connected to the other end of the top panel (50,50A). The top panel (50,50A) may be curved as shown. The side panels (10,10A) are mounted between the front, rear and the top panels (30,30A,40,40A,50,50A). The bottom panel (20,20A) is mounted between the front, rear and side panels (10,10A,30,30A,40,40A) to form a hollow body with a chamber for containing beverage, food or the like.
With further reference to
The top panel (50,50A) has a top folding groove (51,51A) defined in the top panel (50,50A) along a direction perpendicular to the side panels (10,10A). In a preferred embodiment, the top folding groove (51,51A) is defined in the top of the top panel (50,50A). In an alternative embodiment, the top folding groove (51,51A) can be defined in the bottom of the top panel (50,50A).
The top panel (50,50A) has an opening defined through the top panel (50,50A) and communicating with the chamber. The opening is provided with a cap (65,80) to close the opening. With reference to
In the first embodiment, with reference to
In the second embodiment, the cap (80) is attached directly to the opening in the top panel (50A) to close the opening.
The bottom panel (20,20A) may be implemented by two plastic films connected with each other and has a bottom reinforced rib (75,75A). The bottom reinforced rib (75,75A) is embedded between the plastic films of the bottom panel (20,20A) and is X-shaped.
The bottom reinforced rib (75,75A) has a bottom folding groove (751) defined in the bottom reinforced rib (75,75A) and parallel with the top folding groove (51,51A) in the top panel (50,50A). In a preferred embodiment, the bottom folding groove (751) is defined in a top of the bottom reinforced rib (75,75A) on the bottom panel (20,20A). Alternatively, the bottom folding groove (751) may be defined in a top of the bottom reinforced rib (75,75A) on the bottom panel (50,50A). In addition, the bottom folding groove (751) is in alignment with the top folding groove (51,51A) and is located at a surface that is perpendicular to the side panels (10,10A) and is parallel with the front and rear panels (30,30A,40,40A).
With reference to
With the reinforced ribs (70,75) on the side and bottom panels (10,20,20A), the structural strength of the side and bottom panels (10,20,20A) implemented by plastic films can be reinforced. Thus, the volume of beverage that the container can hold can be increased. In addition, for small volume usage, the side reinforced ribs (70) can be kept free from the side panels (10A) as the container shown in
To fold the container, with reference to
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Claims
1. A container comprising:
- a hollow body constructed by a front panel, a rear panel, a top panel, two side panels and a bottom panel; and
- an opening defined in the top panel and being closed by a cap, wherein
- each one of the front, rear and top panels has a thickness larger than that of each one of the side and bottom panels;
- the top panel has a top folding groove defined in the top panel along a direction perpendicular to the side panels; and
- the bottom panel has a bottom reinforced rib having a bottom folding groove defined in the bottom reinforced rib and parallel with the top folding groove in the top panel.
2. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top folding groove is defined in a top of the top panel;
- the bottom folding groove is defined in a top of the bottom reinforced rib on the bottom panel; and
- the bottom folding groove is in alignment with the top folding groove and is located at a surface that is perpendicular to the side panels and is parallel with the front and rear panels.
3. The container as claimed in claim 2, wherein each side panel further has a side reinforced rib having a side folding groove defined in the side reinforced rib along a direction parallel with the front panel; and
- the side folding grooves in the side panels are located at the surface at which the top and bottom folding grooves are located.
4. The container as claimed in claim 3, wherein
- the top panel is curved and the opening is defined at a position lower than a topmost position of the curved top panel;
- the top panel further has a nozzle attached to the opening in the top panel, being extendable and having an outer thread formed around a free end of the nozzle; and
- the cap has an inner thread screwed with the outer thread on the free end of the nozzle.
5. The container as claimed in claim 4, wherein
- the bottom panel is implemented by two plastic films connected with each other; and
- the bottom reinforced rib is embedded between the plastic films of the bottom panel and is X-shaped.
6. The container as claimed in claim 5, wherein
- each side panel is implemented by two plastic films connected with each other; and
- the side reinforced rib of each side panel is embedded in the plastic films of the side panel and is X-shaped.
7. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each side panel further has a side reinforced rib having a side folding groove defined in the side reinforced rib; and
- the side folding grooves in the side panels are located at the surface at which the top and bottom folding grooves are located.
8. The container as claimed in claim 7, wherein
- each side panel is implemented by two plastic films connected with each other; and
- the side reinforced rib of each side panel is embedded in the plastic films of the side panel and is X-shaped.
9. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein
- the top panel is curved and the opening is defined at a position lower than a topmost position of the curved top panel;
- the top panel further has a nozzle attached to the opening in the top panel, being extendable and having an outer thread formed around a free end of the nozzle; and
- the cap has an inner thread screwed with the outer thread on the free end of the nozzle.
10. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein
- the bottom panel is implemented by two plastic films connected with each other; and
- the bottom reinforced rib is embedded between the plastic films of the bottom panel and is X-shaped.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 3, 2008
Publication Date: Mar 12, 2009
Applicants: (Taipei), (Taipei)
Inventor: Teng-Shun LAI (Taipei)
Application Number: 12/203,755
International Classification: B65D 6/16 (20060101); B65D 25/38 (20060101); B65D 41/04 (20060101);