Container with Air Intakes

A container including a vessel, a top plate, a first hole, and one or more second holes is provided. The vessel is for storing liquid, and includes open top and closed bottom portions. The first hole on the top plate has a first open state and a second close state, and the first hole allows the liquid to flow through the first hole in the first open state. Each of the second holes on the top plate includes a first open state and a second close state. When at least one of the second holes in the first open state allows air traffics between inside and outside. At least one of the second holes allows air flow through the second hole so as to equalize air pressure of the inside and outside of the container when the liquid flows through the first hole.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container with air intakes.

More particularly, this invention relates to a container with air intakes to equalize air pressure inside and outside of the container.

Soft drink or beverage has been packaged in a paper pack, which has a hole for a straw.

When a user drinks from such a pack, the pressure inside the pack decreases as more and more liquid are sucked out through the straw. Therefore, it gets harder and harder to drink as the pressure difference becomes larger. This low pressure inside and high ambient pressure outside is caused because the straw fits tight against the rim of the hole leaving almost no space through which the air flows in and out. For the same reason, the liquid squirts out easily when the pack is squeezed even slightly.

These problems are clear to see from a paper pack 1 of a prior art as shown in FIG. 1. A straw 4 is held tightly in a hole 3 provided on the paper pack 1. There is no path for air flow easing out the pressure building across walls of the paper pack 1.

Accordingly, a need for a container with air intakes has been present for a long time considering the range of use along with a straw. This invention is directed to solve the problems and satisfy the long-felt need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the prior art.

An object of the invention is to provide a container which does not overflows through a straw when squeezed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container which ease out the air pressure difference between the inside and outside of the container.

An aspect of the invention provides a container for storing and suckling liquid.

The container comprises a vessel, a top plate, a first hole, and one or more second holes.

The vessel is configured to store liquid, and comprises an open top portion and a closed bottom portion.

The top plate is configured to close and seal the open top portion of the vessel.

The first hole is provided on the top plate. The first hole comprises a first open state and a second close state, and the first hole is configured to allow the liquid to flow through the first hole in the first open state. The first hole is configured to keep the liquid from leaking through the first hole in the second close state.

The one or more second holes are provided on the top plate, each of the one or more holes comprises a first open state and a second close state. When at least one of the one more second holes is in the first open state the opened second hole is configured to allow air traffics between inside and outside of the container, and when all of the one or more second holes are in the second close state the second holes block flowing of the air through the second holes.

At least one of the one or more second holes allows air flow through the second hole so as to equalize air pressure of the inside and outside of the container when the liquid flows through the first hole.

The top plate may be integrated with the vessel.

The first hole may be covered by a pokable membrane. The pokable membrane may be configured to be broken by poking with a straw, and the size of the first hole may be determined by the size of the straw.

The first hole may be substantially circular in cross-section.

At least one of the one or more second holes may be covered by a pokable membrane, and the pokable membrane may be configured to be broken by poking with a straw.

The size of the second hole may be smaller than the size of the first hole. The second hole may be small enough to keep the liquid from flowing with surface tension of the liquid at the second hole.

In certain embodiments, at least one of the one or more second holes may be blocked with a plug. The plug may be connected to the top plate. The plug may be configured to close the second hole when pushed in and open when plucked out. The plug may comprise a head and a stem extended from the head, and the stem may comprise a leaking hole leading from a bottom of the stem to a side wall of the stem such that the leaking hole is exposed and opens to the outside when plucked out by a predetermined length.

The second hole may be blocked by a sticky membrane, and the sticky membrane may be configured to be opened and closed repeatedly. An edge of the sticky membrane may be fixed to the top plate.

The advantages of the present invention are: (1) the liquid flow from the container is smooth; and (2) the container is convenient to be used with a straw.

Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paper pack of a prior art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a close perspective view of holes on a top plate of a container according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a close perspective view of holes on a top plate of a container according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a plug for a second hole according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 8 is a side plan view of a container according to another embodiment of the invention.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the invention provides a container 100 for storing and suckling liquid.

The container 100 comprises a vessel 10, a top plate 20, a first hole 30, and one or more second holes 40.

The vessel 10 is configured to store liquid, and comprises an open top portion and a closed bottom portion.

The top plate 20 is configured to close and seal the open top portion of the vessel 10.

The first hole 30 is provided on the top plate 20. The first hole 30 comprises a first open state and a second close state, and the first hole 30 is configured to allow the liquid to flow through the first hole 30 in the first open state. The first hole 30 is configured to keep the liquid from leaking through the first hole 30 in the second close state.

The one or more second holes 40 are provided on the top plate 20, each of the one or more second holes 40 comprises a first open state and a second close state. When at least one of the one more second holes 40 is in the first open state the opened second hole 40 is configured to allow air traffics between inside and outside of the container 100, and when all of the one or more second holes 40 are in the second close state the second holes 40 block flowing of the air through the second holes 40.

At least one of the one or more second holes 40 allows air flow through the second hole 40 so as to equalize air pressure of the inside and outside of the container 100 when the liquid flows through the first hole 30.

The top plate 20 may be integrated with the vessel 10 to form a monolith except for the holes 30, 40.

The first hole 30 may be covered by a pokable membrane. The pokable membrane may be configured to be broken by poking with a straw 90, and the size of the first hole 30 may be determined by the size of the straw 90.

The first hole 30 may be substantially circular in cross-section just as the shape of the straw 90. In certain embodiments, the shape of the first hole 30 does not correspond to the shape of the straw 90.

At least one of the one or more second holes 40 may be covered by a pokable membrane, and the pokable membrane may be configured to be broken by poking with a straw 90.

The size of the second hole 40 may be smaller than the size of the first hole 30. The second hole 40 may be small enough to keep the liquid from flowing with surface tension of the liquid at the second hole 40. Still, the small second hole 40 can allow air to flow in from outside when the liquid inside is sucked out. The pressure difference pushes out the liquid drop blocking the second hole 40 and leads in air from the outside.

In certain embodiments shown in FIG. 6, at least one of the one or more second holes 40 may be blocked with a plug 50. The plug 52 may be connected to the top plate 20. The plug 52 may be configured to close the second hole 40 when pushed in and open when plucked out. The plug 50 may comprise a head 52 and a stem 54 extended from the head 52, and the stem 54 may comprise a leaking hole 56 leading from a bottom of the stem 54 to a side wall of the stem 54 such that the leaking hole 56 is exposed and opens to the outside when plucked out by a predetermined length.

In certain embodiments shown in FIG. 7, the second hole 40 may be blocked by a sticky membrane, and the sticky membrane may be configured to be opened and closed repeatedly. An edge of the sticky membrane may be fixed to the top plate 20.

Another aspect of the invention provides a container which is not of a shape of box. The container may look like a bloated envelope or sack as shown in FIG. 8. The air intakes, the second holes 40, can be provided on a top or middle portion of the container 100.

With the air intakes, the container is easily crushed when discarded after use.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A container for storing and suckling liquid comprising:

a vessel configured to store liquid, the vessel portion comprising an open top portion and a closed bottom portion;
a top plate configured to close and seal the open top portion of the vessel;
a first hole provided on the top plate, wherein the first hole comprises a first open state and a second close state, and wherein the first hole is configured to allow the liquid to flow through the first hole in the first open state, and wherein the first hole is configured to keep the liquid from leaking through the first hole in the second close state; and
one or more second holes provided on the top plate, each of the one or more holes comprises a first open state and a second close state, wherein when at least one of the one more second holes is in the first open state the opened second hole is configured to allow air traffics between inside and outside of the container, and wherein when all of the one or more second holes are in the second close state the second holes block flowing of the air through the second holes,
wherein at least one of the one or more second holes allows air flow through the second hole so as to equalize air pressure of the inside and outside of the container when the liquid flows through the first hole.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the top plate is integrated with the vessel.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the first hole is covered by a pokable membrane.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein the pokable membrane is configured to be broken by poking with a straw, and wherein the size of the first hole is determined by the size of the straw.

5. The container of claim 3, wherein the first hole is substantially circular in cross-section.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more second holes is covered by a pokable membrane, and wherein the pokable membrane is configured to be broken by poking with a straw.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the size of the second hole is smaller than the size of the first hole.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein the second hole is small enough to keep the liquid from flowing with surface tension of the liquid at the second hole.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more second holes is blocked with a plug.

10. The container of claim 9, wherein the plug is connected to the top plate.

11. The container of claim 9, wherein the plug is configured to close the second hole when pushed in and open when plucked out.

12. The container of claim 11, wherein the plug comprises a head and a stem extended from the head, and wherein the stem comprises a leaking hole leading from a bottom of the stem to a side wall of the stem such that the leaking hole is exposed and opens to the outside when plucked out by a predetermined length.

13. The container of claim 1, wherein the second hole is blocked by a sticky membrane, and wherein the sticky membrane is configured to be opened and closed repeatedly.

14. The container of claim 13, wherein an edge of the sticky membrane is fixed to the top plate.

Patent History
Publication number: 20090152282
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 17, 2007
Publication Date: Jun 18, 2009
Inventor: Sang Gi Lee (Los Angeles, CA)
Application Number: 11/958,155
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Straw Extends Through Removable Closure (220/709)
International Classification: A47G 19/22 (20060101);