Abstract:
Improvements in an adjustable volume rigid sided container are disclosed. The adjustable volume allows the container to reduce or eliminate air from within the container. As users consume a portion of the content of the container they reduce the internal volume. The container has an opening for delivery or pouring spout for delivery of the product and a cap that accommodates pouring, venting and close condition. The container has an adjustable connection between the container components. 
     As the internal volume is adjusted the container collapses into a smaller size. Preferably the first component is larger diameter than a second component that is a smaller diameter and slides onto the larger first component. The components can be permanently sealed and disposable or can be designed to be completely taken apart where they can be placed into a dishwasher to be washed and or sterilized for future re-use.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/830,641 filed Jun. 3, 2013 the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    This invention relates to improvements in a rigid walled container which houses perishable liquids. More particularly, the present liquid container is constructed to reduce the internal volume of the container to eliminate exposure of the contents to air. The container is constructed from two or more rigid components that move into each other to reduce the internal volume. 
         [0007]    2. Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
         [0008]    The need to preserve a once opened container of wine or other perishable liquid is important and valuable. For many fluids, air can cause deterioration of the fluid over time. The time can be hours, days, weeks or longer. This is especially important based upon the value of the fluid. A number of patents and or publications have been made to address these issues. Exemplary examples of patents and or publication that try to address this/these problem(s) are identified and discussed below. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,311 issued Apr. 24, 2001 to Claude R Litto and US publication 2004/0081739 that was published on Apr. 29, 2004 to Gary Sibley et al disclose a container contents preservation system. After consumption of some of the contents of the container, a user places beads or other components into the container to raise the fluid level within the container and thereby reducing the amount of air within the container. This patent and publication does not reduce the size and volume of the container, they just displace the fluid within the container. 
         [0010]    US publication 2003/0102311 that was published on Jun. 5, 2003 to Jamed R. Brady, US publication 2007/0039977 that was published on Feb. 22, 2007 for Blake F. Donaldson and US publication 2011/0185922 that was published on Aug. 4, 2011 for Barry Maxwell Rees disclose a system that places a movable cover over the top surface of the fluid within the container. These publications do not displace the liquid volume of the container or significantly alter the internal volume of the container. They simply place a “skin” over the top of the fluid to prevent interaction with any air that is within the container. 
         [0011]    There are a large number of one-piece flexible sided containers that collapse to changes the internal volume. U.S. Pat. No. 3,390,821 was issued on Sep. 28, 1966 to J. Mullan and U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,437 that issued on May 16, 2000 to Francesco Mascitelli both disclose pleated containers that reduce in size and internal volume as the fluid within the container is dispensed. Neither of these patents discloses a rigid sided invention where the container is made from two or more parts and slide within each other to alter the internal volume. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,311 issued on Apr. 24, 2001 to Claud R. Litto, and US publication US2004/0182888 that was published on Sep. 23, 2004 to Paul R. Hickert disclose hard sided container where an internal bladder is expanded to fill the void that is created when the fluid within the container is displaced. Neither of these documents discloses movement of one component within another to change the volume of the container. These products are also difficult to clean because the bladder must be removed from within the hard sided container. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,050,217 issued on Aug. 21, 1962 to W. Mackey, U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,810 that was issued on Feb. 21, 1989 to Albert S. Czetweertynski, U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,971 was issued on Dec. 20, 1994 to Raoul Laffy et., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,018 was issued on Nov. 30, 2004 to Christopher Eaddy et al., each disclose a ridged sided container where a piston moves up from a bottom position to dispense product from the top of the container to prevent air from entering into the container. While these products prevent air from interacting with the contents of the inside of the container the size of the container remains essentially the same. The cleaning of the components is also difficult due to the nature of construction of the components. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,732,101 issued on Feb. 11, 1953 to F. Söhn, U.S. Pat. No. 4,308,977 issued on Jan. 5, 1982 to Ludwig Sigmund et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,792 issued on Oct. 12, 1993 to Chung-Shan Sheen, US Publication 2008/0170963 was published on Jul. 17, 2008 to Clifford Cantrell and US Publication 2011/0114592 was published on May 19, 2011 to Mark Garrison all disclose a rigid sided container where a piston moves from an elevated position to a lowered position and essentially pushes the fluid that is within the container out of an opening. While these products prevent air from interacting with the contents of the inside of the container the size of the container remains essentially the same. The cleaning of the components is also difficult due to the nature of construction of the components. 
         [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,834,538 issued on May 13, 1958 to J. Surgue et al and disclose a two part rigid sided container where the two rigid components slide within each other to reduce the internal volume of the container. This product is designed to quickly fill surgical gloves to check for leaks prior to use. While this product collapses to reduce the internal volume, in the collapsed position there still is a large amount of volume that still remains within the container. The operator cannot adjust the volume of the container to several different preferable volumes and to the exact desirable volume each and every time as it is needed. 
         [0016]    What is needed is a rigid sided container where the internal volume of the container is decreased to eliminate air from within the container. The proposed liquid container provides a novel solution to this problem. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    It is an object of the adjustable volume rigid sided container to have an adjustable volume. The adjustable volume allows the container to eliminate air from within the container. Air can affect the flavor of beverages such as wine or other products that degrade from exposure to the air. The container can be filled with different fluids, including but not limited to wine, spirits, water, carbonated beverage, oil, medicine, cosmetic products, liquid chemicals and juice. As a user consumes some of the contents from inside of the container they reduce the internal volume. As the internal volume is decreased air is pushed out of the container. The container has an opening for pouring or delivery of the product within the container. The dispensing or pouring opening is separate from the adjustable connection. Filling the container with carbonated beverages is achieved by maintaining partial pressure of Carbon dioxide (CO2) in the closed air space within the bottle. Following Henry&#39;s law, the partial pressure is dependent upon temperature and on the concentration or amount of CO2. If the head space inside the container is small, only a relatively small amount of dissolved CO2 comes out of solution to build up the equilibrium partial pressure of gaseous CO2. If the head space above the liquid within the container is large, more CO2 comes out of solution to build up that characteristic partial pressure. So, most of the CO2 comes out of solution until equilibrium is reached with the very small amount of CO2 present in the liquid, resulting in a flat drink. The adjustable volume allows the container to decrease or eliminate the head space from within the container, and keep the carbonated beverages carbonated for a longer time. 
         [0018]    It is an object of the adjustable volume rigid sided container to have a sliding connection between the container components. The sliding adjustment creates a method to alter the internal volume of the container. The container uses rigid wall components to adjust the volume. As the internal volume is adjusted the container collapses into a smaller size. At the normal or full condition the container has a preferable volume of about ¾ of a liter, but the volume can be made to nearly any desirable internal volume from a few milliliters to several litters. At the minimum volume the container has a preferable volume of about a glass of wine, and can be altered to accommodate any desired volume for the interior of the container. 
         [0019]    It is another object of the adjustable volume rigid sided container to be constructed from two or more rigid components. Preferably the first component is a bottom that is larger than the second component that is a smaller diameter top that slides onto the bottom component. While the first component is described as being a larger bottle where the smaller top transitions into the larger bottom, it is equally contemplated that the first bottom component can be smaller in diameter than a larger top housing component where the larger top component transitions over the smaller bottom housing. A gasket seals the components together and both prevent leakage and allow separate components to slide along a sealing surface or surfaces. As previously disclosed the top component has an opening for pouring or delivery of the product to dispense the contents from within the container to pour into a glass or to dispense the contents as desired. 
         [0020]    It is still another object of the adjustable volume rigid sided container to be cleanable. The components and seals are designed to be completely taken apart where they can be placed into a dishwasher to allow all sides of the pieces to be washed and or sterilized for future re-use. After cleaning the container can be filled with new wine or other liquids, or wine can be decentered from a non-adjustable container into the adjustable volume rigid sided container. It can also be designed in a way that the components and seals are inseparable if it is preferable by the user. In other word the seals and the components can be detachable or fixed. The container can be for one time use (disposable) or can be reused. 
         [0021]    Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective assembled view of the adjustable volume rigid sided container. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded isometric view of the adjustable volume rigid sided container. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  shows a first partial assembly of the adjustable volume rigid sided container. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  shows a second partial assembly of the adjustable volume rigid sided container. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional view of the adjustable volume rigid sided container in the full condition. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional view of the adjustable volume rigid sided container in the collapsed condition. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective assembled view of the adjustable volume rigid sided container  19 . The container has a size and shape that is similar to a generic wine container. While the size and shape may be similar to a wine container, different sizes and shape are contemplated including more sides. The preferred embodiment has an internal volume of 750 ml, but larger or smaller internal volume containers are contemplated and provide equivalent functionality. The container  19  has a lower housing or component  20  and a top or upper component  21 . The top cap has two parts  22  and  23 , and it covers the pouring spout on the upper component  21 . Between the lower housing component  20  and the upper component  21  a gasket seal creates a water proof seal between the two or more housing components. The upper component slides into the lower housing component  20  to reduce the internal volume of the container. 
         [0029]    In this preferred embodiment the container has a two parts cap constructed with an upper part  23  and a lower part  22  that cover a pouring spout. The upper part of the upper cap  23  has a flange. The purpose of the flange is to prevent the out coming liquid from spurting out over the sides of the flange. The liquid that comes out of the valve on the upper cap  23  will contact the inside surface of the flange and pours into the reservoir on the top of the upper cap  23 . The top cap  30  is a removable part that secures to the upper cap  23  to prevent fluid from splashing out of the central opening in the upper cap  23 . A valve exists between the upper part  23  and a lower part  22 . The lower part  22  has indicia that indicate a lock  71  (closed) and an unlocked  72  (open) position with an indicator  70 . There is a third or open position  74  that allows for fluid to be poured from the container. These indicia allow a user to know if the container  19  is opened, partially open or closed. In the preferred embodiment the upper and lower components are made from clear or colored glass, but can also be made from other materials that provide adequate equivalent or superior performance. The upper part  22  can be made from a variety of materials but generally from metal or plastic. It is also contemplated that the upper part  22  can be made from a thermal insulating material that helps to keep liquid within the container  19  cold. Markings  73  are visible through a sleeve that covers the bottom cylinder and indicate the amount of fluid that is remaining within the container  19 . The interaction between the components of the container  19  are shown and described in more detail in the proceeding figures. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded isometric view of the adjustable volume rigid sided container,  FIG. 3  shows a first partial assembly of the adjustable volume rigid sided container and  FIG. 4  shows a second partial assembly of the adjustable volume rigid sided container  19 . The bottom or lower housing is covered with a sleeve that engages onto the bottom cylinder  60 . The bottom cylinder  60  is preferably fabricated from a transparent material where the fluid within the bottom cylinder  60  is visible through windows  63  and  64  located on opposing sides of the sleeve. The windows  63  and  64  have indicia that indicate the amount of fluid within the container. This indicia can also be indicated on the bottom cylinder  60 . The bottom  65  of the sleeve can have a cushion to reduce movement of the container on a table and can further reduce potential damage of the bottom  65  of the container on a table or other surface. The top  62  of the sleeve essentially mates with the threads  61  on the bottom cylinder  60 . Wine or other fluid can be poured into the bottom cylinder. The threads  61  on the bottom cylinder  60  are secured with internal threads in the middle dial  32 . The threads  61  can be a single pitch, but in the preferred embodiment the threads  61  are a two three or four thread pitch that allows the middle dial  32  to be secured to the threads  61  in the bottom cylinder  60 . The plunger  40  fits inside of the bottom cylinder  60  where the plunger  40  is secured with the middle dial  32  on the threads  61 . 
         [0031]    The plunger  40  consists of two major components and a seal  50 . The configuration of the seal  50  can take various contemplated configurations. Four contemplated versions are shown and include, but are not limited to a single seal  54 , and double mid lip seal  53 , a double lip version  52  with the lips at the ends of the seal and a three seal version  51 . While different versions of the sealing are shown, the seal  50  prevents movement of fluid around the inside walls of the bottom cylinder  60 . The seal  50  engages onto the lower flange  44  of the inner top cylinder  41 . The inside of the inner top cylinder  41  is hollow where fluid from within the bottom cylinder  60  pushes through the inside of the top cylinder  41 . The inner top cylinder  41  has an upper shoulder  42  that centers the inner top cylinder within the outer top cylinder  45 . An outer top cylinder  45  surrounds the inner top cylinder  41  to provide a bearing that slides through the crush ring  28 . The top  47  of the inner top cylinder  41  protrude through a top flange  46  of the outer top cylinder  45 . The top portion of the inner top cylinder  41  has threads  43  that engage into threads in the upper cap  22 . 
         [0032]    The outer top cylinder  45  passes through the inner sleeve  29  where the outer top cylinder  45  is locked in place to seal with the crush ring  28 . The outer top cylinder  45  further passes through the inside of the middle dial  32 . A flat O-ring  27  seals the top  47  of the inner top cylinder  40  with the upper cap  22 . While the seal  27  is shown as a flat O-ring, it can also be a round O-ring or a conical washer that spans inside the interior of the upper cap  22 . The bottom  25  of the cap  23  is secured to the threads  26  in the cap  22 . The cap  23  has an annular lip that creates an omni-directional collection reservoir for pouring fluid from within said container. A membrane  31  is a one-way valve that prevents fluid from splashing through the top opening. At the center of the cap  22  a venting opening is located. In the preferred embodiment the inside diameter of the inner top cylinder  41  that is over 10% smaller than the inside diameter of the bottom cylinder  60 . Samples have been made where the cross-sectional ratio is 10% or less to optimize the volume reduction. 
         [0033]    To dispense fluid from inside of the container, a user partially unscrews the upper cap  23  from the lower cap  22  to create an enlarged opening. The enlarged opening equates to the opening that might be found in a wine bottle. The upper cap  23  and the lower cap  22  are partially closed to leave the container slightly opened to allow air to be vented from the container. Once all of the air has been vented the upper cap  23  and the lower cap  22  are tightened onto each other to create an air tight container without air within the container. It is also contemplated that a user can remove the caps  22  &amp;  23  and then pour fluid through the top cylinder opening threads  43 . This is also the method used to pour liquid into the container or to add liquid to the inside of the container. The upper cap  23  can be partially opened to vent air from within the container. In operation, after pouring fluid from with the container, the upper seal  23  is opened and the top cylinder  40  is pushed into the bottom cylinder  60  until fluid is visible in the upper reservoir of the upper cap  23 . The inner cylinder  40  can then be slightly withdrawn to allow the fluid to drain into the container, or the upper cap  23  can be closed to ensure that no air exists inside of the container. 
         [0034]    When the components of the container are assembled the upper assembly is set into the lower assembly, as being shown in  FIG. 4 . The middle dial  32  is threaded onto the bottom cylinder  60  threads  61 . The cap  22  is threaded onto the threads  43  on the inner top cylinder. Cross-sections of the container are shown in the extended and in the collapsed configuration are shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional view of the adjustable volume rigid sided container in the full condition, and  FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional view of the adjustable volume rigid sided container in the collapsed condition. The bottom portion or housing shows the threads  61  extending down a portion of the neck of the bottom cylinder  60 . The middle dial  32  is shown engaged in the threads  61  of the lower housing or bottom cylinder  60 . The crush ring gaskets  28  is seating in a recess to lock and or seal the top cylinder with the bottom cylinder. The outer top cylinder  45  further passes through the inside of the middle dial  32  with a sliding locking element. A flat O-ring  27  seals the top threads  43  of the top cylinder  40  with the cap  22 . The bottom  25  of the cap  23  is secured to the upper threads  26  on cap  22 . 
         [0036]    A venting and pouring opening is created by caps  22  and  23  that passes around the upper cap. A top cap  30  has side openings to allow fluid to pour from under the top cap  30 . The upper cap  23  is also configured to allow fluid to flow back into the container through the side openings in the top cap  30 . The upper cap  23  can be partially opened to vent air from within the container. The upper cap  23  can be further opened to allow fluid to be poured from the container. In operation, after pouring fluid from with the container, the upper cap  23  is partially opened and the top cylinder  40  is pushed into the bottom cylinder  60  until fluid is visible in the upper cap  23 . The inner cylinder  40  can then be slightly withdrawn to allow the fluid to drain into the container, or the upper cap  23  can be closed to ensure that no air exists inside of the container. 
         [0037]    The container can be disassembled to provide for cleaning of the components. It is further contemplated that parts, such as seals, are replaceable. In the preferred embodiment the components are made of plastic, rubber or equivalent material(s) material. It is further contemplated that some of the materials can be made from metals such as, but not limited to aluminum, stainless steel. It is further contemplated that some of the components can be made from glass or crystal depending upon the market where the container is being sold. In another contemplated embodiment an aerator can be included into the container to aerator wine being decanted from the container. 
         [0038]    Thus, specific embodiments of an adjustable volume rigid sided container have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.