Collapsible bottles and methods of using same

Abstract

Collapsible bottles and methods of using the collapsible bottles are provided. In an embodiment, the collapsible bottle comprises a top panel having a neck, a middle panel foldable along a fold between the top panel and the middle panel, and a bottom panel comprising a bottom surface defining a molded recess so constructed and arranged for receiving a neck of a second bottle within the molded recess. The bottom panel is foldable along a fold between the middle panel and the bottom panel. The bottle is foldable into a collapsed position wherein the top panel folds into the middle panel and the middle panel folds into the bottom panel.

1 . A bottle comprising:
 a top panel comprising a neck;   a middle panel foldable along a fold between the top panel and the middle panel; and   a bottom panel comprising a bottom surface defining a molded recess so constructed and arranged for receiving a neck of a second bottle within the molded recess, the bottom panel foldable along a fold between the middle panel and the bottom panel, the bottle foldable into a collapsed position wherein the top panel folds into the middle panel and the middle panel folds into the bottom panel.   
   
   
       2 . The bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the neck comprises a closure. 
   
   
       3 . The bottle of  claim 2 , wherein the neck comprises a compressible valve seal positioned underneath the closure. 
   
   
       4 . The bottle of  claim 2 , wherein the closure is selected from the group consisting of a hinged flip top cap, a twist screw cap, a detachable pull tab and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the neck remains above an upper end of the bottom panel in the collapsed position. 
   
   
       6 . The bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the top panel, middle panel and bottom panel comprise a circular shape. 
   
   
       7 . The bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom panel comprises a square shape. 
   
   
       8 . The bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the bottle comprises a height of between about 110 mm to about 305 mm in an elongated position and a height of between about 50 to about 90 mm in the collapsed position. 
   
   
       9 . The bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom panel comprises a diameter of about 50 mm to about 100 mm. 
   
   
       10 . The bottle of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the top panel, middle panel and bottom panel comprises a wall thickness between about 100 to about 300 microns. 
   
   
       11 . The bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the bottle comprises a total weight between about 5 grams to about 30 grams. 
   
   
       12 . The bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the bottle comprises a volume between about 6 fluid ounces to about 24 fluid ounces in the expanded position and about 2 fluid ounces to about 6 fluid ounces in the collapsed position. 
   
   
       13 . The bottle of  claim 1  comprising a beverage concentrate in a form selected from the group consisting of powder, liquid, paste and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       14 . The bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the top, middle and bottom panels comprise a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polylactic acid and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       15 . A bottle comprising:
 a top panel comprising a neck;   a middle panel foldable along a plurality of folds between the top panel and the middle panel; and   a bottom panel comprising a bottom surface defining a molded recess so constructed and arranged for receiving a neck of a second bottle within the molded recess, the middle panel foldable along the plurality of folds between the top panel and the bottom panel, the bottle foldable into a collapsed position wherein the plurality of folds are compressed upon on each other.   
   
   
       16 . A method of stacking bottles, the method comprising:
 providing a first collapsible bottle comprising a top panel, a middle panel, and a bottom panel, the bottom panel comprising a bottom surface defining a molded recess, the first collapsible bottle foldable into a collapsed position wherein the top panel folds into the middle panel and the middle panel folds into the bottom panel; and   stacking the first collapsible bottle on top of a second bottle by inserting a neck or closure of the second bottle into the molded recess of the first collapsible bottle.   
   
   
       17 . A method of providing a bottled liquid, the method comprising:
 providing a vending machine comprising a collapsible bottle;   dispensing a collapsible bottle from the vending machine; and   dispensing a liquid into the collapsible bottle.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the vending machine comprises a plurality of the collapsible bottles in a collapsed position stacked on top of one another. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid is selected from the group consisting of water, coffee, tea, juice, milk, dairy-based drinks (including yogurt), soy-based drinks, cereal-based drinks, fruit-based drinks, soda, slush, nutritional drink and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the collapsible bottle comprises a beverage concentrate in a form selected from the group consisting of powder, liquid, paste and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17  comprising elongating the bottle before dispensing the liquid from the vending machine into the collapsible bottle. 
   
   
       22 . A method of providing a beverage, the method comprising
 providing at least one collapsible bottle in the collapsed position;   elongating the collapsible bottle; and   dispensing a liquid into the collapsible bottle.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the collapsible bottle comprises a beverage concentrate in a form selected from the group consisting of powder, liquid, paste and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the liquid is dispensed from a beverage dispensing machine. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein a plurality of collapsible bottles are provided stacked upon one another on a rack.