Abstract:
A re-sizable container includes a bottom that is formed with one or more circumferential strips that may be removed from the container to separate a portion of the bottom thereby decreasing the volume of the bottom. The lid may be placed on original container, and also may be placed on the remaining portion of the bottom to seal the remaining product within the container while minimizing exposure to air, and decreasing any wasted space.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates general to storage containers. The present invention is more particularly, though not exclusively, useful as a container that can be made smaller as the contents of the container are consumed. The present invention is more particularly useful as a food container that may be made smaller as the food within the container is consumed.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Currently available containers typically include a bottom and are equipped with a top to seal the container. The bottoms of these containers are available in a variety of shapes, and are often used for the transport of products, such as food packaged and made available in a store. Some containers are provided with a resealable top that allows the removal of a portion of the product within a container, and then the resealing the container to keep the product fresh.  
         [0003]     One primary problem with currently available resealable containers is the inability to properly store the remainder of the product. More specifically, in circumstances when the product quality degrades with exposure to air after the container is initially opened, the air within a container, even though sealed, can cause the product to spoil. This is particularly evident when the container is an ice-cream container. The exposure of a large volume of air to the ice cream remaining in a typical container results in the formation of ice crystals on the surface of the ice cream.  
         [0004]     Another challenge with currently available resealable containers occurs when a substantial portion of the product within a container is consumed. In this situation, a large container will be left substantially empty resulting in a significant amount of wasted space. This problem is particularly problematic when the container is stored in a location having limited space, such as a refrigerator or freezer.  
         [0005]     In light of the above, it would be advantageous to provide a container that may be used to package goods for sale and consumption, and that can be made smaller as the goods are consumed in order minimize wasted storage space, facilitate access to the remaining goods, and minimize exposure to air within the container.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention includes a container that is re-sizable to accommodate a decreasing amount of product within the container. The bottom is formed with one or more circumferential strips that may be removed from the container to separate a portion of the bottom thereby decreasing the volume of the bottom. The lid may be placed on the remaining portion of the bottom to seal the remaining product within the container while minimizing exposure to air, and decreasing any wasted space.  
         [0007]     In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is directed toward a product container, such as an ice cream container, having a bottom, and a sealing lid. In this embodiment, ice cream, for example, may be purchased from the store and transported in a suitably sized container. Once the ice cream is consumed to the point that the remaining ice cream is below one of the circumferential strips, the strip and the portion of the container above the strip may be removed leaving a smaller, more appropriately sized container. The sealing lid may be placed over the remaining portion of the container to seal the container while minimizing the air within the container, minimizing the storage space needed for the container.  
         [0008]     Also, by decreasing the size of the container as the product is consumed, access to the remaining product is made easier. More specifically, using the ice cream container example, by decreasing the height of the container as the ice cream is consumed, it will be easier to scoop out the remaining ice cream. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the re-sizable container of the present invention showing a container base having multiple sections that are removable to change the size of the container as the product within the container is consumed, and having a lid sized to seal the container;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the re-sizable container of the present invention showing the container of  FIG. 1  with a section removed to form a container having a smaller volume to contain the product within the appropriately sized container thereby minimizing exposure of air to the product and minimizing wasted storage space;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view of the junction between two sections of the re-sizable container of the present invention attached together with a strip adhesively attached to the base and the section; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of the junction between two sections of the re-sizable container of the present invention attached together with a strip having a removable centerline for separating the strip into two parts thereby separating the sections. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , the re-sizable container of the present invention is shown and generally designated  100 . Re-sizable container  100  includes a top, or lid  102 , and a bottom  104 . In a preferred embodiment, bottom  104  includes one or more removable sections  106  and  108 . These removable sections are separable at joints  116  and  118  by removing removable strips  112  and  114 , respectively.  
         [0015]     Re-sizable container  100  contains a product  130 , such as ice cream, and may create an air chamber  132  between the product  130  and the lid  102 . As shown by the dashed lines in  FIG. 1 , lid  102  may be lowered onto bottom  104  such that the rim  120  of the lid  102  seats firmly about the rim  113  of the bottom  104  to seal the container  100 .  
         [0016]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the container  100  is shown in an alternative configuration following the removal of some of the contents of the container. More specifically, when the product  130  is consumed below the level of the first removable section  106 , removable strip  112  may be pulled in direction  115  around the circumference of the container bottom  104  to separate section  106  from section  108  along joint  116 . Once section  106  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) is removed, lid  102  may be placed on rim  122  of section  108  to once again seal the contents of the container  100 . As shown in this Figure lid  102  may be formed with a window  124  for viewing the content of the container  100 .  
         [0017]     By decreasing the size of the container in this manner, the air chamber  132  is minimized thereby improving the freshness of the product stored in the container  100 . Moreover, by decreasing the height of the container  100  to correspond to the height of the product within the container, the access to the product is simplified. This is particularly so if the product is frozen ice cream or other solid or near solid products. As the product  130  is consumed further, section  108  may be removed from base  110  by the removal of removable strip  114  to further minimize the volume of container  100 .  
         [0018]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the details of the connection of section  106 ,  108 , and  110  are shown. In  FIG. 3A , section  106  is connected to section  108  with a strip  112 , and section  108  is connected to section  110  with a strip  114 . As shown in cross-section, the thickness of the sections  106  and  108  are substantially constant, and strip  112  is attached to the sections  106  and  108  using a suitable attachment method as is known in the art. Such attachment devices and methods include, but are not limited to, strip  112  being attached to the sections  106  and  108  with an adhesive. Alternatively, strip  112  may be sufficiently wide to extend from section  106  to section  108  and embody a removable centerline  117  (shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 3A ). This centerline  117  would tear through the longitudinal middle of the strip  112  to separate into two parts, thereby separating section  106  from section  108 .  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 3B , a vertical cross section of an alternative embodiment of sections  106  and  108  of container  100  are shown having rolled edges  107  and  109 . An attachment strip  112  extends between edges  107  and  109  to attach sections  106  and  108 . As strip  112  is removed along the circumference of container  100 , section  106  is detached from section  108 . A centerline (not shown in this Figure) may also be incorporated in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3B .  
         [0020]     It is to be appreciated that the present invention is shown herein having multiple sections. However, it is also to be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to any particular number of sections, rather, other embodiments having different numbers of sections are fully contemplated herein. For instance, container  100  may be formed with one (1) section that is removable from a base section, but more or fewer sections could be used.  
         [0021]     From the Figures discussed above, it is to be appreciated that a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes containers that are formed with a circular horizontal cross section, and having a cylindrical shape. However, such a shape is not a requirement of the present invention. In fact, other shapes are contemplated herein. For example, container  100  may be formed to have a rectangular or square horizontal cross sectional shape, so long as the horizontal cross section of the container is constant so that the lid will securely fit over the rim of each section. It is also to be appreciated that although the preferred embodiments described herein have been discussed as applied to an ice-cream container, the present invention is not limited to such containers. Rather, the present invention may be used in conjunction with virtually any product containers, including, but not limited to, yogurt and cottage cheese containers.  
         [0022]     While the re-sizable container of the present invention as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.