Patent Publication Number: US-2020299026-A1

Title: Compartmentalized Cylindrical Storage Jar

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a jar for storing supplements or perishable foods, and more particularly relates to a jar having a plurality of compartments for storing perishable foods and non-perishable substances. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Jars with screw-down lids are well-known in the art, including polymeric jars for storing food perishables such as body-building supplements like creatine, soy protein as well as other perishables. 
     A complete workout supplemental regime includes pre-workout and post-workout supplementation, often of several different supplements. Because these supplements must be taken separately, they cannot be mixed in a single container. 
     Traditional jars suffer from a number of defects and inefficiencies, including that they are not compartmentalized for receiving and holding more than one substance. As a result, multiple jars are often kept and ported unnecessarily with one another, taking up space in gym bags and lockers, as well as closets, kitchens, luggage and the like. 
     It would be desirable to have a jar with multiple compartments for storing supplements and food perishables meant to be stowed and/or transported together and meant to be used for similar purposes but not used simultaneously. Such an apparatus would effectively serve the needs of bodybuilders, athletes, exercise enthusiasts, and any other needing to take multiple food sources in sequence. 
     There exists a need in the art for a jar having multiple compartments which facilitates concurrent storing and sequential removal of perishables from a jar. Beneficially, such a jar or apparatus would also provide more efficient means of use than traditional cylindrical jars. It is therefore desirable that a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar be provided. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar. Beneficially, such an apparatus would overcome many of the difficulties with the prior art by providing portability and efficient means of storing and removing multiple substances from the jar. 
     The present invention has been developed in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available apparati and methods. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar for improved storage of materials, the storage jar comprising: a first hollow polymeric cylinder having two open ends, a bottom end and a top end, the first hollow polymeric cylinder having two annular flanges for forming a friction with one of a cap and an annular coupler; a second hollow polymeric cylinder having two open ends, a bottom end and a top end, the second hollow polymeric cylinder having two annular flanges for forming a friction with one of a cap and an annular coupler; an annular coupler adapted to form a friction fit with two annular flanges; two lids detachably connectable to an annular flange. 
     The hollow polymeric cylinder may be one of transparent and translucent. The first cylinder body may further comprise marcation lines for estimating a quantity of viscous material remaining in the jar. 
     The jar may further comprise a third hollow polymeric cylinder having two open ends, a bottom end and a top end, the first hollow polymeric cylinder having two annular flanges for forming a friction with one of a cap and an annular coupler. 
     The first hollow polymeric cylinder and the second hollow polymeric cylinder may each form a compartment for storing a material. 
     A second compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar for improved storage of materials is provided, the jar comprising: a first hollow polymeric cylinder having an open top end, the first hollow polymeric cylinder having a superior annular flange for forming a friction with one of a cap and a second hollow polymeric cylinder; wherein the first hollow polymeric cylinder further comprises an inferiorly-protruding sidewall adapted to receive and form a friction fit with a second hollow polymeric cylinder; a second hollow polymeric cylinder having an open top end, the second hollow polymeric cylinder having a superior annular flange for forming a friction with one of a cap and a first hollow polymeric cylinder; wherein the second hollow polymeric cylinder further comprises an inferiorly-protruding sidewall adapted to receive and form a friction fit with a first hollow polymeric cylinder. 
     A volume of the first hollow polymeric cylinder may be greater than a volume of the second hollow polymeric cylinder. 
     The first hollow polymeric cylinder and the second hollow polymeric cylinder may each form a compartment for storing a material. 
     The jar may further comprise a third hollow polymeric cylinder having an open top end, the third hollow polymeric cylinder having a superior annular flange for forming a friction with one of a cap and a first hollow polymeric cylinder; wherein the third hollow polymeric cylinder further comprises an inferiorly-protruding sidewall adapted to receive and form a friction fit with a first hollow polymeric cylinder. 
     These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an upper, side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4A  is a side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4B  is a side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectioned, side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an upper, side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a sectioned, side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
     Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is an upper, side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar  100  in accordance with the present invention. The storage jar  100  comprises a first cylindrical member  102   a,  a second cylindrical member  102   b,  a first lid  106   a,  a second lid  106   b,  and coupler  104 . 
     Each cylindrical member comprises an open top and an open bottom end. The open top end  114  is defined by a top annularity  110  (or flange or protuberance) which axially circumscribes the open top end and which is smaller is diameter than the center portion (or body) of the first cylindrical member  102 . The annularity  110  juts superiorly from the body of the cylindrical body  102  and is dimensioned to position within one of an annular coupler  104  and a cap  106  to form a friction fit therewith. In some embodiments, the annularity  110  is interiorly or exteriorly threaded to mate with opposing threading on a cap  106  or coupler  104 . 
     The open bottom end is also defined by a lower annular flange (or protuberance)  112  which circumscribes the open bottom end and which is smaller is diameter than the center portion (or body) of the cylindrical member  102 . In some embodiments, the lower annular flange  112  (or annularity) is larger in diameter than the top annularity  110 . The lower annularity  112  juts inferiorly from the body of the cylindrical body  102  and is dimensioned, in various embodiments, to position within either an annular coupler  104 , or a cap  106 , and to form a friction fit therewith. 
     The annularities  110 ,  112  may be threaded exteriorly for engaging an interiorly-threaded surface of the annular coupler  104  or the cap  106 . The jar  100  is also threaded interiorly for engaging an interiorly-threaded surface of the top lid  104 . 
     The couples  104  is cylindrical and comprises a platform  114  disposed at a midpoint between the top and bottom of the coupler such that the platform  114  keep contents within the cylindrical member  102   a  separate from contents within the cylindrical member  102   b.    
     The first cylindrical member  102   a  may be identical to the second cylindrical member  102 ; or, alternatively, may differ only in height in the shown embodiment. 
     Each of the components indicated at  102   a,    104 , and  106  may be formed from polymeric materials, metallic materials, or organic materials (e.g., leather or wood). 
     A logo of a manufacturer may position on the top surface  116  of the cap  106 . The top surface  116  may be planar or convex. 
       FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar  200  in disassembled configuration in accordance with the present invention. 
     The cylindrical members  102  each taper at the top and bottom to form the annular flanges  110  which circumscribe the open top ends  114 . 
     Each cylindrical member  102  formed a compartment  220  for storing a stored product or viscous material. The viscous materials which may be stored in the jar  200  include perishable foods such as peanut butter, butter, cheese, and the like, but also may include powders such as bodybuilding supplements such as protein powders, creatine, etc. The viscous material may also comprise other substances with commercial, residential or industrial applications, including motor oil, cleaner, and the like. 
       FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar  300  in accordance with the present invention. 
     As shown. 
       FIG. 4A  is a side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar  400  in assembled configuration in accordance with the present invention. 
     A volume of the cylindrical body  102   a  may exceed a volume of the cylindrical body  102   b.    
       FIG. 4B  is a side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar  450  in assembled configuration in accordance with the present invention. 
     In various embodiments, the jar  450  comprises bodies  452   a - b  which are frustoconical rather than cylindrical as shown. 
       FIG. 5  is a sectioned, side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar  500  in an assembled configuration in accordance with the present invention. 
     As shown, the cylindrical members  102   a - b  position between the annular coupler  104  and the caps  106 . 
       FIG. 6  is an upper, side perspective view of another embodiment of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar  600  in disassembled configuration in accordance with the present invention. 
     In this shown embodiment, the cylindrical members  602 ,  604  mate with one another. The cylindrical member  604  inserts into a recess defined by cylindrical member  602  forming a friction fit therewith. 
     The volume of cylindrical member  602  is greater than that of cylindrical member  604 . 
       FIG. 7  is a sectioned, side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar  700  in accordance with the present invention. 
     The cylindrical member  604  mates with cylindrical member  602  as shown. A sidewall  706  protrudes inferiorly from the cylindrical member  602  and receives the top  702  of the cylindrical member  604 . 
     Marcation lines are indicated on transparent and translucent variations of the jar  700  at  708 . These lines  708  help a user visibly estimate the volume of contents remaining in a body  602 ,  604  of the jar  700 . The marcation lines  708  may also position on the annularities  110 ,  112 . 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.