Collapsible beverage container

Abstract

Beverage containers are disclosed that are flexible and can collapse to lay flat when emptied of a beverage. When filled with a beverage, the beverage containers expand at a base and can stand upright to dispenser the beverage from the container. The beverage containers include a handle that allows the beverage container to be balanced when it is carried by the handle or is hung, such as from an object, by the handle. Some of the disclosed beverage containers are shaped to fit within a particular object, such as a bicycle frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A beverage container, comprising:
 a flexible fluid pouch;   an opening having a removable cap, the opening attached to the flexible fluid pouch and structured to permit fluid to enter the flexible fluid pouch; and   a dispenser attached to the flexible fluid pouch and structured to dispense fluid from the flexible fluid pouch.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible fluid pouch has multiple layers. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage container of  claim 2 , wherein the multiple layers include an interior layer and an exterior layer, the interior layer being food-safe. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage container of  claim 2 , wherein the multiple layers includes an exterior, canvas layer. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage container of  claim 2 , wherein the multiple layers includes a thermal layer. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage container of  claim 2 , wherein the multiple layers are attached together by at least one of fusion and adhesion. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible fluid pouch is collapsible. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible fluid pouch includes an expandable bottom surface that is configured to expand to support the container in a free-standing position on a surface when the beverage container is filled with a beverage. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one supporting structure embedded within the flexible fluid pouch. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage container has four edges and rounded corners. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage container of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the edges is angled and the remaining three edges form three, approximately 90° corners. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage container of  claim 11 , further comprising a handle embedded in the beverage container. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage container of  claim 12 , wherein the handle is positioned along one of the three edges that meet the angled edge. 
     
     
         14 . The beverage container of  claim 13 , wherein the handle extends above the edge of the flexible fluid pouch on which the handle is positioned. 
     
     
         15 . The beverage container of  claim 12 , wherein the handle is positioned approximately centered along the one of the three edges. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is a hollow tube through which fluid can pass to and from the flexible fluid pouch. 
     
     
         17 . The beverage container of  claim 16 , wherein the opening has threads on its exterior surface and the removable cap has complementary threads on its interior surface in a screw-top configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The beverage container of  claim 17 , further comprising a sealing element positioned within the opening and structured to provide a seal between the removable cap and the opening when the removable cap is secured on the opening. 
     
     
         19 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser includes a controllable one-way valve that permits fluid in the flexible fluid pouch to be dispensed from the beverage container. 
     
     
         20 . The beverage container of  claim 1 , further comprising at least two openings positioned along an edge of the flexible fluid pouch, the openings being configured to receive an attachment elements configured to secure the beverage container to an object.