Collapsible H2O Jug

Abstract

The invention provides is an eco-friendly reusable collapsible plastic jug for drinking water comprising a durable lightweight jug that collapses into a compact, easily stowed and portable package. The jug comprises a series of accordion pleats around its circumference molded into sides of the jug. When empty, the jug can be collapsed by pulling up the lift up nozzle to permit air to escape, pressing the jug downward to collapse it, folding along its pleats, and pushes the nozzle into its closed position.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This patent application claims priority under 35 USC 119 (e) (1) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/691,792 filed Aug. 21, 2012, of common inventorship herewith entitled, “Collapsible H2O Jug.”

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to the field of portable bottles and more specifically to the field of collapsible beverage containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art has put forth several designs for collapsible beverage containers. Among these are:

U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,313 to William Touzani describes a collapsible or foldable plastic bottle of circular bellows like configuration. The bellows over center and fold to retain the folded condition without external assistance, providing a self latching feature. When fully folded, the bellows of the bottle cause the bottle to substantially fit within a cup fastened to the base of the bottle. The cup is generally formed by further extending the cup upward and increasing the diameter slightly in comparison with the reinforcing cup on current soda pop bottles.

US Patent 2004/0040972 to Kalil Haj describes a collapsible liquid container that has a collapsible bottle section and a cap assembly. The collapsible bottle section expands and collapses to accommodate varying amounts of liquid. The cap assembly is coupled to the collapsible bottle and prevents leakage of the liquid while allowing for the passage or air as the collapsible bottle section is expanded and collapsed.

US Patent 2011/0036806 to Jason Lewis Gregg, Anthony David G. Gott, Simon William Dover and Frederick Rogers Minton Beetlestone describes a bottle made of biodegradable material that has a plurality of collapsible pleats and adjacent pleats having regions of weakness which are circumferentially staggered along a helical line to promote collapse of the bottle in a controlled and predetermined way.

None of these prior art references describe the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable and collapsible water bottle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable and collapsible water bottle which can be frozen.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a portable and collapsible water bottle suitable for containing water for pets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a prototypical and functional view showing a fully expanded jug with a handle.

FIG. 2 is a prototypical and functional view showing a fully collapsed jug with a handle, showing the push button for rotating the handle.

FIG. 3 is a prototypical and functional view showing a cap comprising a drinking nozzle with an integrated filter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Inventions are always a product of vision and creativity whether they are world changing inventions like cars and computers or everyday conveniences like pump hairsprays, cordless tools and resealable soda bottles. New inventions like a cell phone change a person's life style, making communication more convenient and accessible virtually anywhere. Other inventions such as a snow scraper and brush combine two already existing inventions into an improved embodiment, reducing clutter in our lives and making a daily winter chores much easier. Often necessity combined with a little creativity is the underlying motivator for an invention. Most inventions fill a relatively small need or perform a specialized limited function. If that need is shared by a sufficient number of consumers, an invention has a great potential for success.

The present invention, hereinafter referred to as the Collapsible H2O Jug, is an eco-friendly reusable collapsible plastic jug for drinking water. The jug is also suitable for carrying other potable or non-potable liquids. As used herein, when the term “water” is used, it is intended to include other potable and non-potable liquids. The Collapsible H2O Jug is a durable lightweight jug that eliminates a need to buy bottled water, thus reducing plastic waste associated with discarding empty plastic water bottles. The Collapsible H2O Jug 10 collapses into a compact, easily stowed and portable package. The collapsed jug is shown in FIG. 2. The jug further comprises a band 12 around the circumference of the jug, wherein the band supports a rotatable handle 14, which handle is rotatable by means of a push button 16 located near the handle, so the button can be pushed by a thumb of a user while fingers grasp the handle.

The Collapsible H2O Jug is manufactured in a safe nonvolatile grade of thermoplastic polymer, preferably a material produced from recycled plastics. The Collapsible H2O Jug is produced in approximate sizes of sixteen ounces, twenty eight ounce, thirty two ounces and sixty four ounces. The jug is suitable for freezing. Also, the jug is suitable for use for water for pets. The larger jugs incorporate an elliptical recess with a strap handle into one side. The jug designs include both a rectangular jug and a cylindrical jug containing a threaded screw cap with a lift up post and cylinder drinking and pouring nozzle or spout 18. The drinking nozzle or spout can also include a filter 20. The Collapsible H2O Jug has a broad circular base for stability. When filled with water, the Collapsible H2O Jug becomes sufficiently rigid for handling without bending or collapsing. When empty, the jug becomes less rigid and is collapsible into its base, folding along a series of accordion pleats around its circumference molded into sides of the jug. The accordion pleats can be created in a variety of ways. One method of creating the accordion pleats is to sequentially vary the thickness of the polymer material creating rings of greater and lesser thickness to accommodate collapsing the jug. Another method to create accordion pleats is to cut an undulating pattern into the mold for producing the jug. To collapse the jug, a user simply pulls up the lift up nozzle to permit air to escape, presses the jug downward to collapse it and pushes the nozzle into its closed position. To expand the jug for filling with water or another beverage, the user pulls up on the nozzle to allow air to enter the jug and lifts the jug by its screw cap to full expansion. When collapsed, the Collapsible H2O Jug easily fits into a purse, briefcase, toolbox, backpack or book bag.

The Collapsible H2O Jug presents consumers a tremendous value and convenience. In most locales with water and sewer utilities, drinking water is perfectly fine, a fact frequently confirmed by news stories relating the fact that the actual sources of commercially bottled water are often municipal water utilities. In places where local drinking water is suspect, most householders use a filtration system or tap filter to purify water to safe drinking levels. If consumers do buy bottled water under such circumstances, they are doing so for convenience. The Collapsible H2O Jug provides consumers with a convenient way to carry and use a drinking water container that saves them a dollar or two when they are thirsty and reduces generating plastic waste that is overwhelming waste landfills. Affordable, durable, portable and storable, the Collapsible H2O Jug provides a truly economical and environmentally responsible alternative to commercially bottled water.

Although this invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto and various modifications which will become apparent to the person of ordinary skill in the art are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

Claims

1. A portable and collapsible water jug, comprising safe nonvolatile thermoplastic polymer, wherein the jug has a broad circular base for stability, and further comprising a series of accordion pleats around its circumference molded into sides of the jug for collapsibility when empty.

2. The portable and collapsible water jug of claim 1 wherein the pleats are created by sequentially varying the thickness of the polymer material creating rings of greater and lesser thickness to accommodate collapsing the jug.

3. The portable and collapsible water jug of claim 1 wherein the pleats are created by cutting an undulating pattern into the mold for producing the jug.

4. The portable and collapsible water jug of claim 1 comprising material produced from recycled plastics.

5. The portable and collapsible water jug of claim 1 produced in approximate sizes of sixteen ounces, twenty eight ounce, thirty two ounces and sixty four ounces.

6. The portable and collapsible water jug of claim 4, further Comprising an elliptical recess with a strap handle into one side.

7. The portable and collapsible water jug of claim 1 further comprising a threaded screw cap.

8. The portable and collapsible water jug of claim 7, further comprising a lift up post and cylinder drinking and pouring nozzle or spout.

9. The portable and collapsible water jug of claim 8 wherein the drinking and pouring nozzle or spout further comprises a filter.

10. The portable and collapsible water jug of claim 1, further comprising a band around the circumference of the jug, wherein the band supports a rotatable handle, which handle is rotatable by means of a push button located near the handle, so the button can be pushed by a thumb of a user while fingers grasp the handle.