Collapsible and reusable container of liquids
A container ( 1 ) for liquid is described, comprising a base ( 2 ), a lid ( 3 ), a jacket ( 4 ) and an inner bag ( 5 ). The jacket extends ( 4 ) between the base ( 2 ) and the lid ( 3 ), defining with them a closed inner volume. The inner bag ( 5 ) is interchangeably positioned in the inner volume and can be filled with a liquid. In the filled configuration, the inner bag ( 5 ) holds upright the container; in the emptied configuration the inner ( 5 ) bag is bent on itself and the container is collapsed with the lid ( 3 ) close to the base ( 2 ) or in abutment thereon. The jacket ( 4 ) is a tubular member made of a laminar material that can be bent on itself like a textile, for example a band that can be bent like bellows. This feature allows switching easily from the upright configuration to the collapsed or bent one, without the need—as in solutions of the known art—to overturn rigid parts, disassemble envelopes or guide the rings defining the metal meshes.
1. A container ( 1 ) for liquids ( 6 ), comprising:
a base ( 2 ),
a lid ( 3 ),
a jacket ( 4 ) extending between the base ( 2 ) and the lid ( 3 ), defining therewith a sealed inner volume ( 1 ′),
an inner bag ( 5 ) interchangeably positioned in said inner volume ( 1 ′), wherein the inner bag ( 5 ) can be filled with a liquid ( 6 ) and wherein the inner bag ( 5 ), in a filled configuration, holds upright the container ( 1 ) with the lid ( 3 ) distal from the base ( 2 ) and in the emptied configuration it is folded on itself and the container ( 1 ) is collapsed with the lid ( 3 ) proximal to the base ( 2 ) or in abutment thereon, and
adduction means ( 7 , 3 ″) to adduct the liquid ( 6 ) into the inner bag ( 5 ), draining means ( 7 ) to drain the liquid ( 6 ) from the container ( 1 ) and adduction means ( 11 ) to adduct pressurized gas into the inner volume ( 1 ′) between the jacket ( 4 ) and the inner bag ( 5 ) so that the inner bag ( 5 ) is completely emptied
the jacket ( 4 ) is a tubular member made of a soft foldable textile laminar material.
2. The container ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the jacket ( 4 ) is a band of polymeric material, spliced to contain the inner bag ( 5 ) laterally, and constituted by a single layer or by several coupled layers made of a same polymeric material or different polymeric materials.
3. The container ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the jacket ( 4 ) is resistant to puncturing and is scratch-proof.
4. The container ( 1 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the jacket ( 4 ) is a band made of polyvinyl chloride PVC.
5. The container ( 1 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the jacket ( 4 ) is a band made of polyvinyl chloride PVC coupled to a reinforcing weft, as a reinforcing net, also made of polymeric material.
6. The container ( 1 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the reinforcing net is made of synthetic textile, selected from PVC, polypropylene, polyethylene, or other polymeric materials.
7. The container ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the jacket ( 4 ) is an envelope made of synthetic textile.
8. The container ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the jacket ( 4 ), the base ( 2 ) and the lid ( 3 ) are circular, and the container ( 1 ) has a cylindrical shape.
9. The container ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the base ( 2 ) and the lid ( 3 ) are rigid and the inner bag ( 5 ) is a flexible film.
10. The container ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the adduction means and the draining means to adduct or drain the liquid ( 6 ) into or from the inner bag ( 5 ) comprise a connector ( 7 ) positioned in the base ( 2 ) to be coupled with an outside adduction or draining line ( 10 ).
11. The container ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the adduction means to adduct pressurized gas into the inner volume ( 1 ′) comprise a connector ( 11 ) positioned in the lid ( 3 ) to be coupled with an outer line feeding pressurized gas.
12. The container ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the base ( 2 ) comprises a plurality of lower feet ( 14 ) and the lid ( 3 ) comprises corresponding upper feet ( 15 ), and wherein each of the upper feet ( 15 ) moves in abutment against the corresponding lower foot ( 14 ) when the inner bag ( 5 ) is empty, so that the lid ( 3 ) rests directly on the base ( 2 ), thereby leaving sufficient space for the jacket ( 4 ) to be folded, and the container ( 1 ) is stackable.
13. The container ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the lid ( 3 ) is provided with an upper opening ( 3 ″) hermetically sealed by a removable stopper ( 16 ), and wherein the inner bag ( 5 ), when empty, can be taken out through the opening ( 3 ″) for replacement.
14. The container ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the inner bag ( 5 ) comprises a lower flange ( 8 ) for the sealed coupling, and decoupling, with the draining means ( 7 ) of the liquid ( 6 ).
15. The container ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , comprising a one-way valve, or a double-acting valve, to vent the air from the inner volume ( 1 ′) when the inner bag ( 5 ) is filled.