Semi-collapsible container

Abstract

A semi-collapsible container has a hollow body with support and collapsible portions, and can be maintained in a collapsed or an expanded condition. The container is useful for storing liquid, and is especially adapted in its collapsed condition for storing substantially small volumes of concentrated liquid, powders or the like, and in its expanded condition for containing larger volumes of liquid. Filling the container with a liquid causes the collapsible portion to move from the collapsed condition to the expanded condition.

1 . A semi-collapsible container capable of moving between a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, comprising:
 a support portion having an exterior surface and an interior cavity;   a collapsible portion having an exterior surface and an interior cavity that cooperates with the interior cavity of the support portion to define at least a portion of a hollow interior of the container, wherein the collapsible portion is adapted to move between a substantially expanded condition and a substantially collapsed condition in which the collapsible portion is inverted into the interior cavity of the support portion;   a dispenser portion communicating with the hollow interior of the container;   a hinge connecting the collapsible portion to at least the support portion;   wherein the hinge and the collapsible portion are configured such that filling the container with a liquid when the collapsible portion is in said substantially collapsed condition causes the collapsible portion to move from the substantially collapsed condition to the substantially expanded condition.   
     
     
         2 . The semi-collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the support portion, the collapsible portion, and the hinge are all made from the same material. 
     
     
         3 . The semi-collapsible container of  claim 2  wherein said same material is a homogeneous blend of HDPE and LDPE. 
     
     
         4 . The semi-collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the support portion is configured such that the support portion does not bend as filling of the container with a liquid moves the collapsible portion from the substantially collapsed condition to the substantially expanded condition. 
     
     
         5 . The semi-collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the collapsible portion includes a stabilizing structure that is configured to engage a flat, horizontal support surface when the collapsible portion is in the substantially expanded condition and the semi-collapsible container is placed on the flat, horizontal support surface. 
     
     
         6 . The semi-collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the stabilizing portion extends downward from a middle of the collapsible portion. 
     
     
         7 . The semi-collapsible container of  claim 1  further comprising a neck portion extending from the support portion to the dispenser portion. 
     
     
         8 . A method of filling a semi-collapsible container comprising:
 filling the container with a liquid when a collapsible portion of the container is in a substantially collapsed condition in which the collapsible portion is inverted into an interior cavity of a support portion;   wherein only said filling causes the collapsible portion to move from the substantially collapsed condition to a substantially expanded condition where the collapsible portion is disposed outside said interior cavity of the support portion.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein a concentrate is provided in the container when the container is in the substantially collapsed condition prior to filling the container with liquid. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said liquid is a diluting liquid and filling the container such that the collapsible portion moves from the substantially collapsed condition to the substantially expanded condition provides a predetermined correct amounting diluting liquid to the concentrate. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the entire container is made from a single material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said single material is a homogeneous blend of HDPE and LDPE. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the support portion is configured such that the support portion does not bend as filling of the container with a liquid moves the collapsible portion from the substantially collapsed condition to the substantially expanded condition. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the container is filled on a flat, horizontal support surface. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising engaging the flat, horizontal support with the collapsible portion when the collapsible portion moves to the substantially expanded condition. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the collapsible portion includes a stabilizing portion that extends downward from a middle of the collapsible portion into engagement with the flat, horizontal surface when the collapsible portion moves to the substantially expanded condition. 
     
     
         17 . A semi-collapsible container capable of moving between a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, comprising:
 a support portion having an exterior surface and an interior cavity;   a collapsible means for moving from a substantially collapsed condition to a substantially expanded condition when the container is filled with a liquid.   
     
     
         18 . The semi-collapsible container of  claim 17  wherein the support portion and the collapsible portion are made from the same material. 
     
     
         19 . The semi-collapsible container of  claim 17  wherein the collapsible means includes a stabilizing structure that is configured to engage a flat, horizontal support surface when the collapsible means is in the substantially expanded condition and the semi-collapsible container is placed on the flat, horizontal support surface.