US2863457A - Collapsible containers - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 9, 1958 l. 1 BARACH COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS Filed'Dec. 28. 1956 States The present invention relates to collapsible containers and more particularly to apparatus of this class constructed of rubber or other elastic material and adaptable to be attached to the person of infants and others for use as urine receptacles.

Among infants and those alilicted with lack of urine discharge control, serious harm by way of infection and skin irritation is likely to follow unless some measures are taken to prevent the prolongation of body contact with such fluid. Some precautions are extremely bothersome and especially so with the case of infants requiring frequent changing. lt is contemplated to overcome these difficulties by providing a receptacle of thel class referred to which may used with or without an absorbent cartridge and suppcrted in portable manner from the users body to catch urinal discharge wheneverreleased and retain same until it becomes convenient to empty. To these ends, in order to render the device versatile the principal housing portion thereof has been made of relatively larger girth and provided with a removable cap at the bottom, affording access for reloading such cartridge with facility. The receptacle, being preferably both elastic and pliable, has been equipped with an unique manner of coupling7 with its cap element, whereby to render the two parts instantly severable from each other and yet abundantly leakproof at their junction to assure the performance required of it during all conditions of posture and environment to which it might become subjected.

Accordingly, a primary object of the invention is to provide a container for liquid which is at once severable into component parts which are compressible into small packaging space and at the same time one which can be instantly assembled into utility condition and have ample leakpreof characteristics for the uses to which it is intended.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liquidtight sealing arrangement for elastic components which utilizes but few and economically produceable elements and which permits of instant assembly and disassembly with attendant ease and facility.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a bottle-type container made of elastic material which may be rolled up into a small space when not in use while yet be capable of large volume or capacity as needed to contain an absorbant cartridge for which latter purpose a scalable access opening is provided.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of structure and operation which is to follow as well as from the illustrations in the accompanying drawing, in both which disclosures like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout, and in which:

Pig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional View through a preferred embodiment of container constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view on a diminutive scale of a subject utilizing a container according tothe present arent fice invention and showing how it may be employed under conditions which prevail customarily with infants,

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on a somewhat enlarged scale taken approximately along line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

in its illustrated concept, the invention contemplates the principal parts made of latex rubber which include a major component having a cylindrical or slightly tapering storage space encompassing portion 4, Figs. 1 and 4, a neck portion S and an intermediate shoulder or consolidating portion 6. The bottom of the storage space encompassing portion wall terminates with a substantially U-shaped or reverse-curve formation best seen in Fig. 5. This formation should be stabilized before the rubber is cured or, in the case of other material, by suitable molding so that a hollow bead formation 17 is obtained which has an internal annular seating recess 18 as well as a significant swell or boundary ange formation 19.

An annular stiifening ring 20 is lodged within the aforedescribed recess 18 whilst the apparatus is intended to be assembled and such ring should be made of size to require the distension of the entire skirting bead 17 and its associated portions 18 and 19. Under such conditions, the ring 20 will repose within its recess securely and more significantly, will bolster the bead formation 17 with particular respect to its region designated 21 so as to present thereat a markedly perpendicular shoulder formation evenly around the circumference of the ange. For dismantling, after the cap, later to be described, has been removed, the component 1 is rendered fully compressible into a small space, by simply rolling the boundary flange 19 over to expose the ring 20 to grasp, pulling out of the ring with a snap movement and permitting the component` to resume its normal shape and characteristics.

The cap component 11, Figs. 1 and 5 is a shallow closure member constructed of the same material as the major component 1 but having a generally semispherical concavity dened by Wall 12. Like it too, the wall terminates with a circumferential bead 14 but in this instance the bead is advantageously. solid and of such girth dimensions as to undergo marked distension in order to be passed over the bead 17 of the principal member 1 and to seat itself behind the shoulder portion 21 with enough constrictive tension to resist such pressures as are likely to become exerted by within contained contents of the bottle 1.

ln its present contemplation, the apparatus has been designed as a urine receptacle for male subjects so that the application problem is resolved by merely providing at the upper end of the neck portion 5 as at S that there be a reinforced section. This is stretched to received the penis, or for more security against separation, a soft rubber ring 15 may be rst applied around the organ with which the neck portion can have frictional engagement. Urinary deposit may be passed through the neck portion 5 and thence through an accessory device which comprises a brief cylindrical section 22 of a valvular element which therefrom continues with a converging section 23 and pendulously extending part 24. The latter may be a further continuation of the same tubular form but one preset before curing to assume a condition whereat its cylindrical wall is collapsed into flat touching condition and also folded in Zig-zag or sinusoidal form substantially as seen in Fig. 1 at 24.

By means of this attachment, which may be secured to the inner wall surface of the neck 5 as by cementing, the passage of liquids through the neck of the bottle may be restricted to one direction, in the instant case inward toward the storage space, and effectively constrained against flowing outward such as would tend to happen if the neck of the bottle should happen to become detached from the wearer. This action of the valvular element is its natural behavior under its mounting arrangement coupled with its sinous and collapsed-wall formation. Within contained accumulations of liquid trying to pass through the hole of portion 24 meet with barrier action by reason of such collapsed and zig-zag walls tending to close more tightly and even in the case of surge effects to reverse the conical part Z3 which would apply more pressure toward effecting closure.

Convenience of several kinds may be had by using a cartridge 16 of absorbent material such as fabric or fiber rolled into a cylindrical form of such dimensions as to pass into the opening of major portion 1 when the cap 11 is removed. This cartridge is generally considered to be more disposable than is liquid content alone having regard to manipulation as well as conventions with regard to public facilities. By utilizing replaceable absorbent rolls which are light in weight and otherwise no trouble to carry, the bottle 1 is rmed and made suitable for sidewise attachment as illustrated in Fig. 2. With particular design for infants use, such practice will afford a means that can be wrapped into or alongside diapers, panty garments, etc., so as to be well supported in prone as well as in upright positions.

Where it is intended that the apparatus be used exclusively in erect position, a suitable arrangement of support may be had by cementing or otherwise permanently securing to the intermediate shoulder or consolidating portion 6 opposed ears 25 in which apertures have been provided for the reception of a sash or belt. In this way the bottle may be carried with security against its weight pulling the neck or other connection from the users attachment therewith. By locating the ears in the region thus described the container is made to hang close to the body under comfortable restraint against tipping far from vertical as well as from Hopping about excessively when weighted by contents.

While the invention has been described with reference to certain arbitrary examples of construction, it will be understood that such are not to be construed as limitations of its scope. Instead, no limitations be imposed upon the scope except as indicated in the hereinafter appended claims. p

The invention claimed is:

1. A collapsible container for uids which comprises, a

it principal body made of rubber or similar elastic material and including a substantially cylindrical large diameter portion terminating at one end with an opening rimmed by a bead and next adjacent said bead having an inner peripheral recess, a cylindrical small diameter portion at the other end of said large diameter portion and constituting a neck for the container, an intermediate por- Y tion merging said large diameter portion with said small diameter portion, a closure for capping said large diameter portion opening which comprises a concavely recessed member terminating with a beaded perimetric flange, a ring element of relatively inelastic material adapted to be lodged under distension of said closure member next adjacent said principal body member rim bead for maintaining both said principal body member terminating opening and said closure member under fluid tight sealing contact thereabout, and a unidirectional Valvular member secured within said container neck which comprises a brief length of elastic tubular material hanging in a direction toward said large diameter portion and forming a collapsed-wall tubular section trained to assume a generally sinuous condition normally but distensible to iluid passing in a direction toward said storage compartment.

2. The combination set forth in claim l including an involute roll of absorptive sheet material proportioned to be snuggly receivable within said storage compartment for the purpose of stabilizing within contained iluids against wave shocks inimical to safe containment thereof.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 including a pair of integral ears of rubber or similar elastic material located on opposite sides of said principal body member adjacent said intermediate portion and having apertures therein adapted to receive the ends of a belt for encircling the waist of a wearer whereby to sustain the weight load of the container when utilized as a urinary catchment.

References 'Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Roberts Nov. 16, 1948 Koch Jan. 18, 1955 832,097 France .Tune 20, 1938

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