# US 2014/0196477 A1 · Method and apparatus for water storage and transport

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- Number: US 2014/0196477 A1
- Document ID: US20140196477A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/215,324
- Filed: 2014-03-17
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2009-04-01
- Inventors: Scott E. Andochick
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196477A1

## CPC

- F25C 1/22: Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds
- B65D 37/00: Portable flexible containers not otherwise provided for
- B65D 75/42: Chains of interconnected packages
- B65D 75/48: containing liquids, semiliquids, or pastes, e.g. cushion-shaped packages
- B65D 75/527: {Tear-lines for separating a package into individual packages (B65D1/30, B65D21/0206, B65D75/34 take precedence)}
- B65D 75/56: Handles or other suspension means
- B65D 75/5816: {for tearing a corner or other small portion next to the edge, e.g. a U-shaped portion}
- B65D 75/5877: {connected to a planar surface of the package wall}
- F25C: PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES

## Abstract

A method and apparatus for water storage and transport uses a container constructed from one of more flexible plastic sheets. A number of chambers for holding water are formed within the container. Each chamber is separated from an adjacent chamber by a web of the flexible plastic sheet. The web of the flexible plastic sheet is perforated to allow adjacent chambers to be separated from one another. In use, the water in the chambers may be liquid or frozen.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for distributing water in a container constructed from one of more flexible plastic sheets, the method comprising:
filling a plurality of chambers within the container with water, each chamber separated from an adjacent chamber by a web of the flexible plastic sheet;
sealing the water within the plurality of chambers;
freezing the water to form ice; and
transporting the container;
wherein the web of the flexible plastic sheet is perforated to allow adjacent chambers to be separated from one another,
where the plurality of chambers are arranged in a strip and adjacent chambers are coupled by a loop of flexible material that passes down a first side of the strip and continues up a second side of the strip to form a carry handle when the strip is extended and to at least partially support the weight of water in any of the plurality of chambers, a length of the loop of flexible material greater than a maximum extended length of the strip to form a carrying handle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising freezing the water within the plurality of chambers before transporting the container.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising freezing the water within the plurality of chambers after transporting the container but before distributing the container.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein a drinking straw is embedded in a wall of each of the plurality chambers, to allow water to be removed from the chamber once the ice has melted.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein a drinking nozzle is embedded in a wall of each of the plurality chambers, to allow water to be removed from the chamber once the ice has melted.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the flexible plastic sheet that forms a corner of each of the plurality chambers is removable to allow water to be removed from the chamber once the ice has melted.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1, where the loop of flexible material couples three or more immediately adjacent chambers and is configured to at least partially support the weight of water in any of the plurality of chambers when the strip is carried.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A method in accordance with claim 7, where the loop of flexible material couples to a face of the three or more chambers of the plurality of chambers.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:
removably attaching the loop of flexible material to the container.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1, where the loop of flexible material is perforated at intervals to allow adjacent chambers to be separated from one another.