초록 ▼

The present invention is a collapsible vessel and also a method of reducing waste. The collapsible vessel has a mechanism that maintains its rigidity in its expanded form, yet allows it to be collapsed when desired. The vessel also has a removable lid, and the vessel, lid, or both may carry logos or

The present invention is a collapsible vessel and also a method of reducing waste. The collapsible vessel has a mechanism that maintains its rigidity in its expanded form, yet allows it to be collapsed when desired. The vessel also has a removable lid, and the vessel, lid, or both may carry logos or other images or indicia, particularly those of restaurant or beverage chains.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A vessel comprising: a bottom cylindrical ring having an inwardly protruding groove running from the top of said bottom ring to a termination in a vicinity of the bottom of said bottom ring, said termination creating a locking pin; andan inwardly protruding locking dent running from the top of sa

1. A vessel comprising: a bottom cylindrical ring having an inwardly protruding groove running from the top of said bottom ring to a termination in a vicinity of the bottom of said bottom ring, said termination creating a locking pin; andan inwardly protruding locking dent running from the top of said bottom ring to the bottom of said bottom ring, and wherein said locking dent is substantially parallel to said groove;a middle ring, wherein the middle ring has a middle wall, the middle wall having upper and lower middle edges, inside and outside middle surfaces, upper and lower middle diameters, a groove extending from the upper middle edge to the lower middle edge, the groove having a pin block, an inwardly protruding locking dent running from the upper middle edge to the lower middle edge, and at least one pin located on the middle inside surface proximate to the middle bottom edge, wherein the middle ring is sized to be a nestable and twistable fit to the outer surface of the bottom ring and wherein the middle ring locking dent is being shaped, sized and located to be matching fit to said bottom ring locking dent such that when the grooves of the middle ring and the bottom ring are engaged, said locking dents are also engaged; anda top cylindrical ring sized to be a nestable and a twistable fit to the outer surface of said middle ring, wherein said top ring comprises: an inwardly protruding groove running from the top of said top ring to a termination in a vicinity of the bottom of said top ring, said termination creating a locking pin, said top ring groove being shaped and sized to be a matching fit to said bottom ring groove; andan inwardly protruding locking dent running from the top of said top ring to the bottom of said top ring, and wherein said locking dent is substantially parallel to said groove, and said top ring locking dent being shaped, sized and located to be a matching fit to said middle ring locking dent such that when said grooves are engaged, said locking dents are also engaged; andwherein said top, middle and bottom rings are shaped and sized such that in a compact configuration, said rings nest inside each other with said grooves and locking dents nested inside each other, and in an extended configuration said top ring extends up beyond said middle ring and bottom ring, and said middle ring extends up beyond said bottom ring, and said top ring groove is aligned by twisting to engage with said middle ring locking dent, and said middle ring groove is aligned by twisting to engage said bottom ring locking dent, thereby resisting vertical forces. 2. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the vessel has a plurality of middle rings, sized to be nestable and twistable fit to each other, and wherein uppermost of the middle rings locks with the top ring and lowermost of the middle rings locks with the bottom ring. 3. The vessel of claim 2, wherein the bottom ring upper diameter is greater than the bottom ring lower diameter, the top ring upper diameter is greater than the top ring lower diameter and each middle ring upper middle diameter is greater than the middle ring lower middle diameter. 4. The vessel of claim 2, wherein the top ring can be extended over the bottom ring, and each ring has a portion of an image or logo on the outside or inside surface that is completed with the top ring is extended. 5. A vessel, comprising: a bottom cylindrical ring;a top cylindrical ring sized to be a nestable and a twistable fit to the outer surface of said bottom ring; andwherein said bottom ring comprises: an inwardly protruding groove running from the top of said bottom ring to a termination in a vicinity of the bottom of said bottom ring, said termination creating a locking pin; andan inwardly protruding locking dent running from the top of said bottom ring to the bottom of said bottom ring, and wherein said locking dent is substantially parallel to said groove; andwherein said top ring comprises: an inwardly protruding groove running from the top of said top ring to a termination in a vicinity of the bottom of said top ring, said termination creating a locking pin, said top ring groove being shaped and sized to be a matching fit to said bottom ring groove; andan inwardly protruding locking dent running from the top of said top ring to the bottom of said top ring, and wherein said locking dent is substantially parallel to said groove, and said top ring locking dent being shaped, sized and located to be a matching fit to said bottom ring locking dent such that when said grooves are engaged, said locking rings are also engaged; andwherein said top and bottom rings are shaped and sized such that in a compact configuration, said rings nest inside each other with said grooves and locking dents nested inside each other, and in an extended configuration said top ring extends up beyond said bottom ring, and said top ring groove is aligned by twisting to engage with said bottom ring locking dent, thereby resisting vertical forces. 6. The vessel of claim 5, wherein the vessel further comprises a removable lid. 7. The vessel of claim 5, wherein the locking dent is a separate groove. 8. The vessel of claim 5, wherein the vessel is made of plastic. 9. The vessel of claim 5, wherein the bottom ring upper diameter is greater than the bottom ring lower diameter and the top ring upper diameter is greater than the top ring lower diameter. 10. The vessel of claim 5, wherein the vessel is a cup. 11. The vessel of claim 5, wherein there is a volume indication on the inside surface. 12. The vessel of claim 5, wherein there is a volume indication on the outside surface.