Abstract:
An apparatus allowing for the adjustment of the size and volumetric content of a container is presented. The container is constructed such that numerous component sections, in which foodstuff or the like can be stored, can be added or removed one to/from the other, respectively, as is desired. Each of the component sections has an annular threaded portion that is sized so as to allow the top or bottom of another like component section to be screw fitted onto the first. In this manner then, component sections can be screw fitted one on top of another thereby allowing for adjustment of the overall size and volumetric content of the container. One component section acts as a base, having a solid bottom, while another component acts as the top onto which a cap/lid can be screw fitted. Each component section can additionally be individually sealed by the addition of a solid bottom and/or of a foil or plastic cover to seal over the section&#39;s openings.

Description:
PRIOR PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/921,773 filed Apr. 4, 2007, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for a size-adjustable container, and more particularly, to the construction of a container that is easily adjustable by size via one or more component pieces without removal of the contents. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Through-out the history of the food service industry, restaurant owners and other purveyors of foodstuffs have always been confronted with the problem of having adequate storage space for their consumables, especially in environments such as crowded cities where such space is at a premium. The problem becomes especially problematic when such limited storage space is filled by containers which are less than full. Many owners surreptitiously solve the problem by having their employees empty the half full containers and then consolidate the contents of many such containers into one container. This, however, is obviously less than an optimum solution and is potentially seriously problematic. 
         [0004]    In addition, the ordering of the quantities of such foodstuffs would be greatly enhanced if the owners did not have to concern themselves so much with what size containers the consumable products would be shipped in and how much resultant space such containers would occupy once received and until emptied. Many have heretofore dealt with the problem by simply waiting until the consumables were completely expended before ordering additional supplies. In result this can cause havoc with the available menu, a situation many owners find untenable and/or unacceptable. 
         [0005]    As current rigid containers, regardless of their size and shape, do not allow for adjustment of content space, solutions for allowing such flexibility of the container size include squeeze tubes and/or bags. While not rigid, both solutions allow for variation of the container size as the contents are utilized. 
         [0006]    For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,684, issued Aug. 12, 1997 to Krall, relates to a plastic squeeze tube and dispensing system that includes a plastic tube that has a first end that is closed and a second end that is closed by an integral wall and that has inter-engaging threads provided for engagement with threads on a reusable dispenser. The reusable dispenser has a member for piercing the integral wall of the second end. When a user wishes to dispense the contents of the tube the external threads of the dispenser are threaded onto the second end of the tube to pierce the integral wall of the tube. 
         [0007]    Also for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,631, issued Oct. 8, 1991 to Robbins, relates to a one-piece bag for potable liquids (e.g., beverages) that includes a body portion formed of a plastics material and sized to accommodate a predetermined volume of potable liquid. A dispenser, allowing access to the potable liquid within the body portion, is interconnected to the body portion by a flexible bellows member. This then allows the dispenser to be foldable between a stowed position (e.g., during periods of nonuse) and an erected position (e.g., during periods of use). A recess may be formed in the body portion (e.g., in a side wall and/or an upper portion thereof) so as to accommodate the dispenser in its stowed position. Longitudinal rigidity and stability may be provided by a series of circumferentially spaced-apart ribs integrally formed on the otherwise flexible (and collapsible) body portion. 
         [0008]    These typical flexible containers, however, have several problems. For example, the containers usually need to be collapsed during use so as to assist in removal of the food or beverage contents through the dispenser. In addition, once the dispensers have ruptured the cover of the opening, there is really no effective seal formed between the dispenser and the container. 
         [0009]    In addition, it is clear that in both instances the solutions are generally only utilizable for small quantities and are not easily manageable for large quantities of foodstuffs or goods, both in terms of use and storage. 
         [0010]    Alternatively, in instances where more rigid containers are used that do allow for stacking, they do not allow for adjustment of capacity within the container. 
         [0011]    For instance, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0178054, published on Aug. 18, 2005, relates to a culture jar that is used for the growing of mushrooms. The jar acts as a culture container and has a filter cap for ventilation purposes that can be used with a variety of filter membranes. Additionally, the jar allows vertical interfacing of one jar on top of another. However, in allowing for such stacking, the disclosure for the culture jar specifically teaches that the bottom end of each vessel member (i.e., each culture jar) is closed. That is, the volumetric capacity of each of the culture jars is fixed and disposed as such in order to contain a culture medium necessary for the growing of the mushrooms. Such is taught by the disclosure of the culture jar application in at least paragraph 5. 
         [0012]    Therefore there is clearly a need in the industry that will allow for the easy size adjustment of containers, easy adjustment of the storage capacity within the container, and the easy selection of appropriate size containers for the storage of large quantities of disposable foodstuffs and goods. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Accordingly, the present invention provides a size adjustable container that allows for a user to increase or decrease container volumetric capacity by the addition or removal of component sections of the container. 
         [0014]    Each component section of the container is constructed to have an annular thread portion on each of its top and bottom. The annular thread portion at the top of the component section of the container is constructed so as to allow a cap, lid or additional component section to be screw fitted onto it, while the annular thread portion at the bottom of the component section of the container is constructed so as to allow the top of another component section to be screw fitted into it. 
         [0015]    In addition, each container has a component section that operates as a base. The base component section has a solid bottom and operates as the section upon which all other component sections are built and/or added. Such base can be constructed to allow for volumetric capacity or not. 
         [0016]    Lastly, the each component sections/portions of the container can be sized differently to hold differing volumetric capacities of the foodstuff or beverage. Such sizing is accomplished through sizing of the height of the individual component sections. Thus one container may be comprised of multiple component sections, each component section having a differing volumetric size and/or content. 
         [0017]    Accordingly, the present invention offers several objects and advantages in that it: allows the contents at the bottom of a container to be more easily accessible; acts as a space saver when contents are depleted; and allows for an increase in size when needed when adding contents to the container. In this manner then, one container now serves/acts as several different size containers by simply removing or adding sections. 
         [0018]    The present invention, including its features and advantages, will become more apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1A  is an illustration of a perspective view of a container consisting of multiple parts connected together, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 1B  is an illustration of a perspective view of the same container shown in  FIG. 1  with one component section removed thus illustrating size adjustability, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of an exploded perspective view of the container shown in  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of an exploded perspective view showing a modification to a bottom portion of one component of the container, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of an exploded perspective view showing a modification to a top portion of several components of the container, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of an overhead view showing the modification in  FIG. 4 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of an exploded perspective view of a container consisting of multiple parts connected together, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]      FIGS. 1 through 6  show the construction of a size adjustable container according to differing embodiments of the present invention. A size adjustable container  100  is of a generally cylindrical shape and consists of multiple components, such components including a bottom base section  110 , an upper section  120 , and a lid  140 . It is to be understood, of course, that the container  100  may be constructed to be any shape, such as for example of that of a square or rectangular shape. It is to be further understood, of course, that multiple upper sections  120  may be utilized, as will be described below. Such construction allows for the container and its individual components to be constructed of any size. 
         [0027]    The preferred materials for construction of the components of the size adjustable container are plastics, such as polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP), or glass. It is to be understood, of course, that any durable materials that allow for rigidity of the container may be utilized in its construction. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a preferred embodiment of the container  100  in its generally cylindrical shape is shown in varying size configurations. In  FIG. 1A  specifically, the container  100  is illustrated comprising a bottom section  110 , one upper section  120 , and a lid  140 . The bottom section  110  acts as a base for the container  100 , and has a solid bottom. In this example, bottom section  110  is constructed so as to allow for some volumetric containment space, although it is to be understood that this need not be the case in every instance. 
         [0029]    The upper section  120  is constructed so as to allow for screw fitting on top of the bottom section, as will be further described below, and in a preferred embodiment is open at both the top and the bottom thereof. In other words, the containment cavity (not labeled) inside upper section  120  is not enclosed at either the top or bottom when the upper section is considered by itself. The lid  140  is then screw-fitted, as will be further described below, onto the upper section  120 . 
         [0030]    It is to be understood, of course, that the individual sizes, that is the volumetric capacities, of the varying upper, lower and bottom sections may be different. In other words, the bottom section  110  may be constructed to hold a greater or smaller volume content than each of the upper sections  120  placed upon it. Likewise, each upper section  120  may be of a varying volumetric capacity than its brethren. 
         [0031]    In  FIG. 1B  specifically, the container  100  is illustrated having been reduced in size such that it comprises only the bottom section  110  and the lid  140 . That is, upper section  120  has been removed. 
         [0032]    The manner in which the size adjustable container  100  is volumetrically adjusted is mechanically easy. First, the lid  140  is removed. In one embodiment the lid  140  is twisted in a counterclockwise motion while holding the top section  120  of the container  100  in place. Second, once the contents of the top section  120  of the container  100  have been removed, the top section  120  of the container  100  is twisted in a counterclockwise motion while holding the bottom section  110  of the container  100  in place. Lastly, the lid  140  is replaced on top of the bottom section  110  by twisting in a clockwise motion while holding the bottom section  110  in place until the lid  140  is tightly secured. 
         [0033]    It is to be understood, of course, that the size adjustable container  100  can also be adjusted to add volumetric content to the container. That is, container  100  may be increased in size. Like the decrease in size described in the previous paragraph above, the increase in size of container  100  is also mechanically easy. First, as before, the lid  140  is removed. In order to remove the lid  140 , it is again twisted in a counterclockwise motion while holding the top section  120  or bottom section  110 , such being dependent on how many sections the current embodiment of the container  100  has in place. Second, a new top section  120  may be added onto container  100  by twisting the new top section  120  onto the current sized container  100  in a clockwise motion while holding the rest of the container in place. This step can be repeated as many times as needed to gain the desired volume. Lastly, the lid  140  is twisted in a clockwise motion on top of the uppermost top section  120  while holding that top section  120  in place until the lid  140  is tightly secured. 
         [0034]    It is to be understood, of course, that such unfastening and fastening (engaging or un-engaging) of the varying components of the container  100  may be accomplished by means other than twisting. Any means that allows for air-tight storage is acceptable. For example, such components may be snap fitted one to the other. 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an exploded perspective view of size adjustable container  100  is shown, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this Figure it is shown that lid  140  is threaded on an inner annular circumference of skirt  138 , and that upper section  120  is threaded on an outer annular circumference of neck  125 . The threading of each annular circumference of skirt  138  and neck  125  are constructed so as to be inter-engaging to the other. In this manner then, the inner annular circumference threading of skirt  138  allows the lid  140  to be screwed and unscrewed onto the outer annular circumference threading of neck  138  of the upper section  120  of the top half of container  100 . 
         [0036]    Again now referring to  FIG. 2 , a lower portion of upper section  120  of the top half of the container  100  is threaded on an inner annular circumference of skirt  118 , and an upper portion of bottom section  110  is threaded on an outer annular circumference of neck  115 . Once again the threading of each annular circumference of skirt  118  and neck  115  are constructed so as to be inter-engaging to the other. In this manner then such inner annular circumference threading allows the upper section  120  to be screwed and unscrewed from an outer annular circumference of neck  115  of an upper portion of the bottom section  110  of the container  100 . It is to be understood, of course, that the inner annular threads and the outer annular threads are identical on each of their respective components thus allowing for interchangeability of mating of various components. It is to be further understood, that such screw-fitting via the threading of the various components allows for air-tight storage, as is well-known in the art. 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a modification to the construction design of one of the various components of the size adjustable container is shown. In this embodiment, container  300  has an upper section  320  with a modified lower portion consisting of a solid bottom  323 . The solid bottom  323  is integrally constructed with that of the sides of the upper section  320  and covers the entire circumferential area. Thus the addition of a solid bottom  323  to the inside of upper section  320  allows for closure on one end of the section&#39;s containment cavity (not labeled). It is to be understood then that the addition of the solid bottom allows for keeping the contents in the bottom section to which the upper section is screw fitted to remain fresh until needed. This is true even in the case where the contents of the upper section spoil. It is also to be understood then that the addition of the solid bottom allows for separation of the contents one from the another in each of the section (e.g., keeping cereal in the top section while keeping milk in the bottom section). It is yet also to be understood then that once the top section of the container is removed, it can now be used on its own as an additional container because of its solid bottom. 
         [0038]    As in the previous embodiment described above, depending from the solid bottom  323  is a skirt  318  with inner annular circumferential threading. Thus, as described above, the upper section  320  can be screw fitted onto a lower section  310  by inter-engagement of the threads on the inner annular circumference of the skirt  318  and the threads on the outer annular circumference of the neck  315 . 
         [0039]    Also as in the previous embodiment described above, depending from the lid  340  is a skirt  338  with inner annular circumferential threading. Thus, as described above, the lid  340  can be screw fitted onto an upper section  320  by inter-engagement of the threads on the inner annular circumference of the skirt  338  and the threads on the outer annular circumference of the neck  325 . 
         [0040]    Referring now in conjunction to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , yet a further modification to one of the various components of the construction design of the size adjustable container is shown. In this modification, containers  400  and  500  of the two figures respectively have “freshness” seals attached to the tops of each of the individual section components. In  FIG. 4 , for instance, bottom section  410  has a freshness seal  417  attached across the opening defined by neck  415 , upper section  420  has a freshness seal  427  attached across the opening defined by neck  425 . In  FIG. 5 , freshness seal  517  is attached across the upper opening defined in section  510 . 
         [0041]    The freshness seals  417 ,  427  and/or  517  can be thermally sealed across their respective openings by well-known means and are thus utilized to keep the contents under the seal fresh until the contents in any sections above are used. The seals do not restrict the addition or removal of the various sections. Once the above section is removed, the freshness seal can be peeled back to expose the contents below. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the addition of the freshness seal allows the contents in the bottom section of the container to stay fresh longer similar to the addition of the solid bottom as describe above. 
         [0042]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in which bottom section  110  has little to no volumetric content and each of the upper sections  120  and  130  placed upon it are of differing volumetric contents is shown. Bottom section  110 , therefore is utilized not for storage capacity, but as a base upon which to place upper sections which are utilized for the storage. In this embodiment, the differing storage capacity&#39;s of sections  120  and  130  are shown by markings “A” and “B” wherein “A” is a greater volumetric capacity than “B”. It is also to be understood that while in the preferred embodiment, the containment cavities of sections  120  and  130  are open at each end, it is possible to add a solid bottom (as described above) to each section if so desired. It is also to be understood that adding and/or removing sections is carried out in the same manner as previously disclosed above. 
         [0043]    Thus as can be seen from the above description, several advantages of the size adjustable container according to the embodiments of the present invention become evident. For instance, the ability to remove a section from the container would allow for saving space in the refrigerator or on the shelf. This is especially effective for situations when goods are bought in bulk, while still allowing for creation of more storage space as the goods are consumed. 
         [0044]    Also removal of a section from the container would allow for access to the contents of the remaining section(s) more easily and freely. An understandable example of this would be getting the last portions of peanut butter out of a peanut butterjar. 
         [0045]    Also, alternatively, the addition of a section to the container would allow for creation of additional volume to the container, thus allowing for additional contents to be stored. An understandable example of this would be when saving leftovers from dinner and adding container sections as needed according to the amount leftover. 
         [0046]    In the foregoing description, the method and apparatus of the present invention have been described with reference to specific examples. It is to be understood and expected that variations in the principles of the method and apparatus herein disclosed may be made by one skilled in the art and it is intended that such modifications, changes, and substitutions are to be included within the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and the drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.