SE1950783A1 - Collapsible water bottle - Google Patents

Abstract

A water drinking bottle (10) comprising a bellows container (20) to be axially expanded when filled with water and to be collapsed when emptied, and a closure (40) comprising an openable and closable filling and dispensing nozzle (30).According to the invention the bellows container (20) is adapted to withstand a pressure drop when filled via the nozzle immersed in water by suction applied when expanding the container.

Description

Collapsible water bottle Field of the invention 1. 1. id="p-1" id="p-1"

[001] This invention relates to a water drinking bottle comprising a bellows container to be axially expanded when filled with water and to be collapsed whenemptied, and a closure comprising an openable and closable filling and dispensingnozzle. The invention also relates to a water-cleaning filter unit for such bottle.

Background of the invention 2. 2. id="p-2" id="p-2"

[002] A plastic collapsible bellows water container of this type is known forexample from CN202286862U. For example in various outdoor activities, it isconvenient to use a space-saving collapsible bellows water container. lt would thenalso be convenient to draw water directly into the container from shallow watersources in nature. To that end it would be possible to modify a bellows container tohave a suction function capable of filling the container by vacuum/suction force whenexpanding it from a collapsed state. Prior art bellows type plastic water containers arenot suitable for that purpose as they are made of a thin-walled plastics material thatwould not withstand the substantial radial compression forces exerted by pressuredrop inside the container during a suction stroke. Bellows type containers of ordinaryplastics material would also be prone to cracking after multiple expanding andcollapsing operations. A bellows type sampling suction pump is known fromUS4858478. ln this pump the bellows sleeve is provided with a plurality of stabilizationmetal rings that ensure that the bellows does not move laterally while drawing air.

Disclosure of the invention 3. 3. id="p-3" id="p-3"

[003] An object ofthis invention is therefore to provide a water bottle of theabove identified kind that is capable of being filled by suction force. 4. 4. id="p-4" id="p-4"

[004] Another object is to provide a water bottle that will not easily be deformedfrom external forces such as by a hand grip of an outdoor user. . . id="p-5" id="p-5"

[005] ln an aspect of the invention the bellows container is adapted to withstanda pressure drop when filled via the nozzle immersed in water by suction applied whenexpanding the container. Thereby, the bottle and pump characteristics are combinedin a simple and inventive manner. 6. 6. id="p-6" id="p-6"

[006] While the container may be adapted in other ways to withstand thepressure drop, in one embodiment, the container is provided with annular sectionscapable of withstanding radial compression when expanding the container. While theannular sections may be separate from the container, in one embodiment they areformed integrally with the single-piece container. 7. 7. id="p-7" id="p-7"

[007] The annular sections may then have a larger wall thickness than aremainder of the container. 8. 8. id="p-8" id="p-8"

[008] ln another embodiment, the bottle is adapted for releasably attachmentof a water-cleaning filter to be flown through by the water when filling the container.Thereby, the water may be cleaned during the single filling operation. 9. 9. id="p-9" id="p-9"

[009] The filter may comprise a filter unit to be sealingly mounted to the closure.[010] The filter unit may also have opposite ends and be adapted to be sealinglymounted with a selected end of said ends to the closure. ln that case the containermay be filled without the closure being mounted, so that the water also may becleaned by emptying the container through the filter and nozzle when the filter unit ismounted in a reversed manner. 11. 11. id="p-11" id="p-11"

[011] ln still another embodiment the container has a substantially uniforminner width including a mouth thereof. Thereby, the water-cleaning filter may easily behoused in the mouth. lt would then also be possible to adapt the inner width so thatthe container, in an alternative manner, could firmly, sealingly and releasably hold thefilter inserted into the container at the mouth. When the container is in its collapsedstate, the arrangement could also be such that the filter unit (that may still be filledwith water from previous use) occupies almost all remaining space in the container.The container then holds a minimum of residual air, which will improve the suctioneffect when the container is filled by suction, as the suction stroke does not need toexpand so much air before drawing the inexpansible (and incompressible) water. Byhaving the uniform width, the container may be easily cleaned when the closure isremoved, and the container may then also be capable of being easily filled with othercontents, such as edible products to be heated, which will be later described. 12. 12. id="p-12" id="p-12"

[012] The container may be formed of an elastomeric base material, such as TPE.The container may further be formed as a single piece, of a uniform material or mixedmaterials. 13. 13. id="p-13" id="p-13"

[013] ln another embodiment the bottle comprises a casing including a topportion having the closure and a bottom portion adapted to enclose the containerwhen collapsed. Thereby, the collapsed container can be kept clean and protectedfrom damage by sharp objects, for example outdoors or in a backpack. 14. 14. id="p-14" id="p-14"

[014] To maintain the bottle in the enclosed state, attachment means can beprovided between the top and bottom portions. . . id="p-15" id="p-15"

[015] The closure may further be releasably secured to an intermediate section,the closure and the intermediate section are then shaped to sealingly clamp anannular flange of a mouth of the container therebetween when secured to each other.[016] While the means for releasably securing the bottom portion to thecontainer may be provided in many suitable ways, in one embodiment, an annularflange at a bottom ofthe container is inserted in an annular recess defined in thebottom section. 17. 17. id="p-17" id="p-17"

[017] Other features and advantages of the invention may be apparent in thefollowing detailed description and the appended claims.

Brief description of drawings 18. 18. id="p-18" id="p-18"

[018] FIG. 1 is a lateral view of a bottle according to the invention in a collapsedstate; 19. 19. id="p-19" id="p-19"

[019] FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the bottle of FIG.1 in an expanded state; . . id="p-20" id="p-20"

[020] FIG. 3 is a lateral view, mainly in section, of the bottle of FIG.2 in a filledstate; 21. 21. id="p-21" id="p-21"

[021] FIG. 4 is a lateral view in larger scale a bottle substantially as that of FIG. 3 in a collapsed state; 22. 22. id="p-22" id="p-22"

[022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view slightly from below and partly in sectionshowing a top section of a bottle according to the invention provided with a filter unit;[023] FIG. 6 is a cutaway lateral view slightly from above showing an upperportion of a bottle according to the invention; and 24. 24. id="p-24" id="p-24"

[024] FIG. 7 is a cutaway lateral view slightly from above showing a bottomportion of a bottle according to the invention; . . id="p-25" id="p-25"

[025] In the drawings, same reference numbers may denote mutually similar oranalogous components.

Detailed description of embodiments 26. 26. id="p-26" id="p-26"

[026] The collapsed bottle 10 shown in FIG. 1 generally comprises an enclosingcasing 12 including a top section or closure 40 having a closable nozzle 30, anintermediate section 50 and a bottom section 60. The sections 40, 50, 60 oftheenclosing casing may be formed of hard plastics material such as polypropylene. 27. 27. id="p-27" id="p-27"

[027] In the expanded bottle state of FIG. 2, an expanded collapsible bellowsliquid container 20 is exposed between the intermediate and bottom sections 50, 60.The container 20 may be formed by a uniform elastomeric material such as TPE, forexample in the form of Dryflex® Green that may contain raw materials from renewableresources. 28. 28. id="p-28" id="p-28"

[028] To keep the bottle 10 in the empty collapsed state of FIG. 1, as shown inFIG. 2, a vertical inner end surface 52 ofthe intermediate section 50 may be attachedby friction of a corresponding vertical outer end surface 62 ofthe bottom section 60. Ifso desired, the engagement may also be effected by mating thread segments 63 (FIG.2), snap locking elements (not shown) or the like. 29. 29. id="p-29" id="p-29"

[029] As apparent from FIG. 3, the collapsible bellows container 20 has agenerally overall constant inner width including its mouth 22. . . id="p-30" id="p-30"

[030] As further apparent from FIG. 3, the intermediate section 50 is releasablysecured to the top section 40 by interengaging fastening means, such as helical threads54 and 42 on respective faces of sections 50 and 40. When securing the top section 50to the intermediate section 50, the mouth 22 ofthe container will be clampedtherebetween. More precisely, as best shown in FIG. 6, the mouth 22 has a radialannular flange 24, and an annular bead 25, that will be securely clamped between anannular vertical flange 44 ofthe top section 40 and an annular radial flange 56 of theintermediate section 50. 31. 31. id="p-31" id="p-31"

[031] Returning to FIG. 3, while the openable and closable nozzle 30 accordingto the invention may be formed as a conventional bottle opening having a cap, in theshown embodiment, it has the shape of a combined spout 32 and a ball valve member34. The partly spherical valve member 34 is rotatably supported about an axis 36 in arecess 46 at a top face of top section 40. In a closed state ofthe bottle 10 shown inFIG. 3, the spherical valve member 34 sealingly closes an inlet/outlet opening 48 to thecontainer 20 via an O-ring 38. When the nozzle 30 is rotated to an open state ofthebottle 10 shown in FIG. 4, a filling/dispensing duct 37 in the nozzle 30 communicateswith the interior of the container 20 through the opening 48. 32. 32. id="p-32" id="p-32"

[032] With reference to FIG. 7, the bottom section 60 of the casing is releasablysecured to the container 20 by a radial annular flange 26 ofthe container beinginserted in a corresponding radial annular recess defined between a bottom wall 64and a radial annular flange 66 of the bottom section 60. 33. 33. id="p-33" id="p-33"

[033] As indicated in FIG. 4, the bottom section 60 alternatively be formed of ametallic material, such as aluminum. In that case, the bottom section 60 and container20 containing the water and possibly added foodstuffs may be heated by a burner, forexample for cooking purposes in outdoor use. 34. 34. id="p-34" id="p-34"

[034] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the bottle 10 may also have a water-cleaning filter unit 70 adapted to clean water when filling the bottle.[035] As further shown in FIG. 5, the filter unit 70 may be releasably secured to the top section 40, for example via an O-ring (not shown) and mutually engaginghelical threads 49 between cylindrical surfaces of unit 70 and top section 40. 36. 36. id="p-36" id="p-36"

[036] When the container is filled with water cleaned by the filter unit 70, thefilter unit 70 may have to be removed before the water is dispensed from thecontainer 20 if the filter unit 70 is of the one-way type, i.e. has filtering action only inone flowing direction. 37. 37. id="p-37" id="p-37"

[037] As is further understood from FIG. 5, filter unit 70 may also be attached tothe top section 70 in a reversed manner. For that purpose the opposite end of filterunit 70 that may also have helical threads 49B corresponding to the threads 49. 38. 38. id="p-38" id="p-38"

[038] In use, for filling the bottle 10, the nozzle 30 is opened by being turned tothe open state in FIG. 1, the nozzle spout 32 is immersed into a water liquid surface. Atabout the same time, the bottom section 60 is released from the connection with theintermediate section 50. The user, holding the top and intermediate sections 40, 50with one hand and holding the bottom section 60 with the other hand, then pulls thecontainer 20 to an expanded state, whereby the container 20 is filled by suction force,via the filter unit 70 if mounted when needed. Then the nozzle may be closed to keepthe bottle 10 in the expanded state of the container 20. 39. 39. id="p-39" id="p-39"

[039] Importantly, the bellows container 20 is adapted to withstand thesubstantial internal pressure drop occurring when the suction force is applied. In otherwords, it will not collapse radially inward by the pressure drop. To that end, whileother measures may be likewise applicable, in the embodiment shown, the container20 is shaped to withstand a pressure drop when it is filled via the nozzle immersed inwater by suction force applied when expanding the container. More precisely, the container 20 is provided with annular sections 28 capable of withstanding radialcompression when expanding the container. ln the embodiment shown, the annularsections 28 are stiffened by having a larger wall thickness than the other portions ofthe container 20. The annular sections 26 may also be pre-stressed radially outwardsduring manufacture to further enhance the ability to withstand radial compression. ltwould also be possible to form the container in one piece with annular sections beingof a stiffer material than the remainder ofthe container (not shown). 40. 40. id="p-40" id="p-40"

[040] The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness ofunderstanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom.Modifications will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading thisdisclosure and may be made without departing from the scope ofthe appendedclaims.

Claims (14)

1. Claims1. A water drinking bottle (10) comprising a bellows container (20) to be axially expanded when filled with water and to becollapsed when emptied; and a closure (40) comprising an openable and closable filling and dispensing nozzle(30): characterized by the bellows container (20) being adapted to withstand a pressure drop whenfilled via the nozzle immersed in water by suction force applied when expandingthe container.

2. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the container (20) is provided with annularsections (28) capable of withstanding radial compression when expanding thecollapsed container (20).

3. The bottle of claim 2, wherein the annular sections (28) have a larger wallthickness than a remainder of the container (20).

4. The bottle of any ofthe preceding claims, wherein the bottle (10) is adapted for releasably attachment of a water-cleaning filter (70) to be flown through by thewater when filling the container.

5. The bottle of claim 4, wherein the filter comprises a filter unit (70) to be sealinglymounted to the closure (40).

6. The bottle of any ofthe preceding claims, wherein the container (20) has asubstantially uniform inner width including a mouth (22) thereof.

7. The bottle of claim 6, wherein the filter unit (70) has opposite ends and isadapted to be sealingly mounted with a selected end of said ends to the closure(40).

8. The bottle of any ofthe preceding claims, wherein the container (20) is formedfrom an elastomeric base material, such as TPE.

9. The bottle of any ofthe preceding claims, comprising a casing including a topportion (40, 50) having the closure and a bottom portion (60) adapted to enclosethe container when collapsed.

10. The bottle of claim 9, comprising attachment means (52, 62; 63) between thetop and bottom portions (40, 50, 60).

11. The bottle of claim 9 or 10, wherein the closure (40) is releasably secured to anintermediate section (50), the closure (40) and intermediate section (50) beingshaped to sealingly clamp an annular flange (24) of a mouth (22) ofthe container(20) therebetween when secured to each other.

12. The bottle of any of claims 8-11, comprising means (26, 64, 66) for releasablysecuring the bottom portion (60) to the container (20).

13. The bottle of claim 12, wherein said means comprise an annular flange (26) at abottom of the container (20) to be inserted in an annular recess defined in thebottom portion (60).

14. A water-cleaning filter unit (70) according to any of claims 5-7 to be used with abottle of any of the preceding claims.