WO1991019428A1

WO1991019428A1 - Portable flexible container

Info

Publication number: WO1991019428A1
Application number: PCT/FR1990/000451
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roger Paul Prunt
Original assignee: Roger Paul Prunt
Priority date: 1990-06-14
Filing date: 1990-06-14
Publication date: 1991-12-26

Abstract

A portable flexible container (A) is formed by combining at least one sealed tube (10a) for containing a liquid with a shade (90a) for covering all or part of said container (A) to form a cap, whereby, when said container (A) is placed around a user's head, the liquid in said tube (10a) is shielded from the sun by said shade (90a). The container can be used as a portable and flexible container for refreshing beverages.

Description

FLEXIBLE AND PORTABLE CONTAINER

The present invention relates to a hollow object capable of enclosing in its capacity a fluid and relates more particularly to a container containing a liquid, of the type of that of a drink which is drunk to quench your thirst or to refresh yourself.

The trade in these drinks presupposes the conditions for their handling. To simplify the latter, the drinks are, often still, contained in elongated containers, with narrow necks, and generally made of glass, such as flasks and bottles. In order to allow a rational production, in consideration of the needs of the consumption, one fixed the quantity of liquid which should contain these containers. Thus, the capacity of flasks and bottles was, for most of them, standardized.

However, new needs are emerging concerning the large consumption of drinks, for the satisfaction of which the flasks and bottles prove to be unsuitable. So, when it was convenient to stop for a "drink" at the counter of a drinking establishment, it became common to enjoy a "soda" while walking. To do this, flasks and bottles have many disadvantages.

Among the latter, certain drawbacks arise from the use of glass for the manufacture of containers intended to be transported by a person for his personal consumption. Indeed, glass is a material:

- brittle, risk of injury;

- heavy, cause of overload; - rigid, crowded. Among the latter again, other drawbacks arise from the very design of these containers:

- drink "from the bottleneck", in defiance of hygiene;

- unblocking requiring the use of an appropriate tool; - uncertain filling, to the detriment of the conservation of the drink.

A first improvement in this state of the art lies in the evolution of beer, cider and then lemonade bottles, offered by the "can". The latter is plugged with a porcelain cone lined with rubber and fixed by a lever spring. This provision authorizes the uncorking of the bottle without resorting to the use of a particular tool. This arrangement also allows real filling of the "can" after each use, thus promoting intermittent consumption of the drink. A second improvement in this state of the art consists in the appearance of cardboard or plastic packaging of generally tetrahedral shape, for the sale of certain drinks, in particular milk. This novelty offers for the manufacture of containers. The use of a material which is no longer: - or brittle, which prevents the risk of injury;

- neither heavy, which avoids any overload.

This novelty favors the individual transport desired by the changing consumption needs of the drink.

A third improvement of this state of the art is determined by the invention of a container adopting the shape of a cylindrical box whose bottom and cover are crimped. This box is formed by a thin metallic envelope. Furthermore, this box implements a drain system which consists in tearing from the cover a pre-cut tongue by means of a ring. Finally, this box offers a limited capacity due to the amount of drink that a single consumer can absorb in a short period of time. Thus, such a box uses on the one hand, a material which is neither brittle nor heavy. On the other hand, such a box circumvents the aforementioned drawback relating to the filling by rendering the latter useless in most cases. Furthermore, the same box being more particularly intended for individual use, partly prevents the above-mentioned drawback relating to hygiene.

To meet the pressing requirements of said hygiene, these various new containers are most often used by means of a hollow rod such as a "straw", a kind of blowtorch which is introduced into a container to suck in the drink. it contains. Such a "straw", although distinct from the container itself is sometimes associated with the latter in the same package, so that its use tends to be systematized. Nevertheless, despite these successive improvements aimed at adapting the containers to a recent mode of consumption of the drink, by suppressing or bypassing the aforementioned drawbacks linked to the use of flasks and bottles, these new containers, if they allow a consumer to transport, without major risk and without particular effort, The quantity of drink which is individually necessary for him to quench his thirst or to refresh himself, and if they authorize the effective consumption of the drink considered under conditions of use and hygiene, do not yet meet all the needs determined by this recent mode of consumption of a drink.

Taking stock of this state of affairs The applicant has imagined a container of a new type, remarkable in that, not only is the design of said container obviated all of the aforementioned drawbacks, but also remarkable in that the use of same container meets most of the needs determined by a recent mode of consumption of the drink.

To do this, the container according to the invention, of the type of that constituted by a closed tube intended to contain a fluid, is remarkable in that the above-mentioned closed tube is on the one hand, provided at one of its two ends , of a female connection element and at the other of its two ends of a male connection element, designed to produce an assembly together and on the other hand, flexible so that the ends of said closed tube can be brought together so that the latter forms a small crown while said female and male connecting elements realize together The means of connection.

The fact of making the container of the invention flexible makes it possible to make it adopt a suitable shape in order to surround the body or a part of the body of a person such as the head, so that the container of the invention be portable.

The invention just mentioned above in its most basic form. The fundamental concepts considered to be new will be better expressed and understood below, with reference to the reading of the following description of several embodiments of a container, given by way of illustration and not limitation and highlighting other advantages. and other features of the invention.

This description is annexed to drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of such a container.

Figure 2 is a front view of a second embodiment of such a container.

Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views illustrating the use of the container of Figure 1, carried by the head of a person.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1, used as a cap.

As illustrated in the drawing of Figure 1, the container of

The invention referenced A as a whole, is constituted by a closed elongated tube 10a whose ends are crimped so as to make

Said closed tube 10a hermetic, so that the latter is capable of containing in its capacity, a drink. Advantageously, the same container A is made of a material which folds easily so that. Said container easily yielding to the impressions received, is flexible on the one hand, and on the other hand, when said closed tube 10a is empty, the walls of the latter can be brought together so that the same base container A present flat.

This flat arrangement has the advantage of authorizing manufacturing methods and storage conditions of said container, which are particularly advantageous. This container Λ being flexible, the two ends 11a and 12a of said closed tube 10a can also be brought together so that said container forms a crown. The same crown can be kept closed by means of a temporary connecting means 20a that a connecting element called female 21a carried by the end 11a of said closed tube 10a and by the connecting element called male 22a carried together. by the end 12a of the same closed tube 10a, these two female 21a and male 22a connecting elements being designed to carry out the assembly. According to this last particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention. The same container A affecting The shape of a crown, which can be kept closed, becomes portable since attached, surrounding it, to the body or part of a person's body, such as around the head, such as it is shown in the drawing of Figure 3. Referring to the drawing of Figure 2, it is considered another container said complementary container and referenced B as a whole, of the type of that of the invention similar to said container A said base, said base A and complementary B containers are assembled end to end to form a new container called large container C whose length c corresponds to the sum of the respective lengths a and b of the same base A and complementary B containers, said large container C being endowed with the same properties as Said base container A or complementary container B of the invention.

Indeed, considering the complementary container B consisting of a closed tube 10b provided at one of its two ends 11b with a female connecting element 21b and at the other of its two ends 12b with a male connecting element 22b , said containers A and B having been assembled by means of a first connecting means 20b which are produced together by said female connecting elements 21a and male 22b, to form said large container C, the free ends of the latter corresponding to said end 12a of said base container A and at said end 11b of said complementary container B can be brought together so that said large container C forms a crown so that said male connecting elements 22a and female 21b together form a second connecting means 20c. Thus, said large container C can be attached, by surrounding it, to the body or to a part of the body of a person. The same base container A is provided with an adjustment means 30a and The same complementary container B is provided with an adjustment means 30b by virtue of which the respective lengths a and b of said base containers A and complementary B are variable so that the circumference a of the small crown formed by said base container A and the circumference c of the large crown formed by said large container C are also variable. Thus, the base container A and Said large container C can be adjusted. When they surround the body or any part of a person's body, to be worn by the latter.

In the drawings of Figures 3 and 4, The basic container of the invention referenced A as a whole consists of a closed tube 10a Long and narrow. Said closed tube 10a has a particular length "a" corresponding to the normal length of the turn of the part of the body of a person represented by the head of the latter. The same closed tube 10a is provided with an adjustment means 30a so that said length "a" is adjustable around the head of a particular person. Furthermore, said closed tube 10a is shaped from a thin and flexible material. Thus, said base container A is flexible, so that its ends are brought together so that the same base container A forms a small crown which surrounds the head of a person and is adjusted to it. The advantage which results from these arrangements taken together lies in the fact that said basic container A contains in its capacity a drink which is worn attached to the body of the person without the latter feeling any obstacle to his movements, nor of excessive overload, and without the latter being likely to be injured by said base container A if the latter comes to be shocked. the same base container A is pierced with a drain port 40a through which said base container A is in communication, through a flexible torch 60a, with the mouth of the person on the head of which the same container base A is adjusted. Furthermore, the material in which is shaped said tube closed 10a being deformable, The wall of the same closed tube 10a transmits to

The drink contained in the latter the effect of the atmospheric pressure which it undergoes so that, due to the laws of hydrostatics, the drink considered tends to flow, by gravity, out of said closed tube 10a in the mouth of the person concerned, through said flexible torch 60a. The advantage which results from these arrangements taken together, resides in the fact that The person on

The head of which is adjusted said base container A, can quench its thirst or refresh itself by absorbing the drink contained in said closed tube 10a while reserving the use of its hands therefore remaining free of all its movements.

As illustrated in the drawing of FIG. 5, the container A can be provided with a filling orifice 50a which is temporarily closed by an appropriate plug so that said container having been emptied of the liquid which it contains , can be refilled when not disposable.

Advantageously, the same flexible torch 60a is provided at its end in connection with the mouth of the person concerned with a suction nozzle 70a. The latter is designed to authorize and / or to interrupt the flow of the beverage contained in said closed tube 10a through said flexible torch 60a. Or said suction nozzle 70a is flexible and provided in its mass with a longitudinal slot so that a pressure exerted on said suction nozzle 70a opens said slot so that the drink considered flows out of said flexible torch 60a; either that said suction nozzle 70a carries a hook 81a preformed to collaborate with a notch 82a located on said tube 10a so that said torch 60a is subject to said closed tube 10a by means of attachment 80a produced by said hook 81a and by said notch 82a so that, said suction nozzle 70a being placed above said drain orifice 40a, the drink can no longer flow by gravity. The advantage which results from one or the other of these provisions or from the two taken together or from another provision leading to the same result lies in the fact that the person concerned can ^" salter or refresh himself by intermittently as he pleases.

According to a particularly advantageous arrangement of the example of application of the invention considered, said base container A also consists of a strip 90a disposed longitudinally to said closed tube 10a over all or part of the length "a" of the latter , either that said strip 90a is formed integrally with said base container A, or that said strip 90a is attached to the latter. The same strip 90a is designed to project beyond said closed tube 10a so that, when said basic container A surrounds the head of a person, the forehead and at least the eyes of the latter are protected by said strip 90a forming a visor. Thus, a first advantage of this arrangement lies in the fact that said basic container.A plays the role of a cap for the person on whose head it is adjusted. A second advantage of this arrangement lies in the fact that said strip 90a which constitutes said visor, offers a surface on which can be affixed the sign of a trademark or any other motif for advertising and / or decorative purposes. The same strip 90a, protruding from said tube 10a, when it is located above the latter, also constitutes a protective screen Which is interposed between the drink contained in said closed tube 10a on the one hand, and the action of the sun's rays on the other hand. Thus, a third advantage of this arrangement lies in the fact that said strip 90a preserves the drink from excessive heating when said base container A is exposed to heat radiation such as that of the sun.

It is understood that the container, which has just been described above and shown. Was for disclosure rather than Limitation. Of course, various arrangements, modifications and improvements could be made to the example above, without going beyond the ambit of the invention taken in its broadest aspects and spirit.

In order to allow a better understanding of the drawings, a list of references with their legends is listed below. A Basic container, B Additional container. C Large container,

10a Closed tube of base container A,

10b Closed tube of the complementary container B,

11a, 12a Ends of the closed tube 10a, 11b, 12b Ends of the closed tube 10b,

20a Connection means of the base container A,

20b First means of connecting the large container C,

20c Second means of connecting the large container C,

21a Female connecting element of the closed tube 10a, 21b Female connecting element of the closed tube 10b,

22a Male connection element of the closed tube 10a,

22b Male connecting element of the closed tube 10b,

30a Length adjustment means a,

30b Length adjustment means b, 40a Drain hole,

50a Filling hole,

60a Flexible torch,

70a Suction nozzle,

80a Hooking means (81a and 82a), 81a Hook carried by the suction nozzle 70a,

82a Notch located on the closed tube 10a,

90a Visor strip. a Length of the closed tube 10a, circumference of the small crown, b Length of the closed tube 10b, c Circumference of the large crown formed by

The large container C,

Claims

1. Container (A), CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT i L is constituted by the association of at least one closed tube (10a) intended to contain a fluid with a visor (90a) which covers in whole or in part the said container (A) to act as a cap, so that, When said container (A) surrounds the head of a person, The liquid contained in said tube (10a) is protected from sunlight by the above visor (90a).

2. Container according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT The aforesaid closed tube (10a) of the aforesaid container (A) is pierced with a drain orifice (40a) so that said closed tube (10a) containing a liquid , the latter can flow through said drain orifice (40a), so as to empty said container (A) of its content.

3-. Container according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT The aforesaid container (A) is provided with an adjustment means (30a) of its connecting means (20a) By the effect of which the Length (a) of said container (A ) is variable so that, the circumference (a) of the crown formed by said container (A) also being variable, said container (A) can be adjusted when it surrounds the head of a person, to be carried by the latter.

4. Container according to claims 1 and 2, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT The aforesaid closed tube (10a) is provided with a filling orifice (50a) which is temporarily closed by an appropriate plug such that said container base (A), having been emptied of the liquid which it contains, by means of the aforesaid emptying orifice (40a), can be refilled.

5. Container according to claims 1 and 2 taken together, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the above-mentioned drain orifice (40a) constitutes the lowest point of the above-mentioned closed tube (10a) so that the liquid contained in the latter can flow when the above container girdles the head of a person.

6. Container according to claims 1, 2 and 5, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT The aforesaid closed tube (10a) of said container (A) is in communication, through the above said drain orifice (40a), aven a flexible torch (60a) so that. When the above container (A) surrounds the head of a person, the mouth of the latter is in communication with one of the ends didut flexible torch (60a).

7. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT The walls of the said closed tube (10a) are shaped in a deformable material so that the corresponding volume of the said container (A) is variable under the natural effect of atmospheric pressure, so that said closed tube (10a) containing a drink, while said basic container (A) and / or said large container (C) surrounds the head of a person , the drink can flow by gravity, through the above flexible torch (60a), to the mouth of the person considered to quench the latter.

8-. Container according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT The above flexible torch (60a) is provided at its end in relation to the mouth of a person with a suction nozzle (70a), which is designed to authorize and / or to interrupt by a simple maneuver the flow of a liquid through said torch (60a) so that, when the aforesaid basic container (A) surrounds the head of a person considered, the latter can quench their thirst intermittently.

9. Container according to Claims 6 and 7, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT The above closed tube (10a) is capable in its upper part of a notch (82a), which is preformed to collaborate with a pickle (81a) carried by the the above suction nozzle (70a) so that the above torch (60a) is subject to the aforesaid container (A) by means of the attachment means (80a) formed by the adequacy of said hook (81a) and Said notch (82a).

10. Container according to claims 1 to 9 taken together, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the above closed tube (10a), The above visor (90a) and The above torch (60a) are shaped dan a flexible and deformable material from a single holding.