Patent Application
20190322418
The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
The present invention relates generally to the field of storage containers of existing art and more specifically relates to modifiable volume storage containers.
Presently the need for storage containers of all sizes has substantially surpassed any such requirement in recorded history. Storage containers for individual food items are commonly utilized in both residential and commercial settings. Options for storage containers are immediately limited to disposable flaccid bags, and reusable fixed volume containers. While disposable bags serve some purposes, they are less than ideal for most uses involving storage of leftover meals. Generally, bags are more suited to store items that are not liquid, and do not need to retain a shape. Plastic containers having a fixed volume are typically used for storage purposes. Many varieties of plastic containers have been developed, yet all have the similar rigid structure comprising a container and accompanying lid. A wide variety of shapes and sizes are provided, each with a lid to match. Unfortunately, given the disparate designs of containers, locating matching lids is a frequent issue. A suitable solution is desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,941 to Edward S. Robbins III relates to a reusable and re-collapsible container and associated cap. The described reusable and re-collapsible container and associated cap is a reusable collapsible container having a bottom wall and a relatively flexible, peripheral side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the side wall movable between axially extended and collapsed positions. The side wall includes lower and upper relatively thicker portions and an intermediate relatively thinner portion, and the upper portion joins with an annular rim adapted to receive a removable cap. The intermediate side wall portion is tapered radially inwardly and downwardly, and the lower side wall portion is tapered radially outwardly and downwardly substantially to the bottom wall, such that in a collapsed position, the lower side wall portion is partially telescoped within the upper side wall portion, with the intermediate portion reverse folded therebetween.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known modifiable volume container art, the present disclosure provides a novel expandable and collapsible lid and method. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an efficient and effective expandable and collapsible lid for use.
An expandable and collapsible lid system is disclosed herein. The expandable and collapsible lid includes a lid that has capability to migrate between an expanded state and a collapsed state. The lid includes a flange having a circumscribing lip that is configured for fluid-proof communication with an opening. The lid includes a plurality of concentric segments each flexibly coupled together, inner-diameter to outer-diameter, with each subsequent segment. The expandable and collapsible lid system further includes a container. The container includes the opening that when closed defines a volume of the container.
According to another embodiment, a method of using an expandable and collapsible lid system is also disclosed herein. The method includes a first step of providing an expandable and collapsible lid system as described above; attaching a lid to a first container; opening an aperture of the lid; expanding the lid inwardly to the container; and closing the aperture of the lid thereby sealing the volume. The method further includes an optional step of nesting a second container within the first container.
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, an expandable and collapsible lid system and method, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.
As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to modifiable volume containers and more particularly to an expandable and collapsible lid and method as used to improve storage capabilities.
Generally, the expandable and collapsible lid system is a stackable set of containers. The system provides an extremely portable means of keeping lidded containers organized. The primary function of the expandable and collapsible lid system is the ability to store large volume containers with the lids attached. This functionality allows for volumes of containers to be recessed by a modifiable lid, allowing for stacking of similar sized containers in small spaces. Unlike any existing lidded container art, the expandable and collapsible lid system allows a user to keep lids on containers while nesting the containers for storage. The expandable and collapsible lid system also allows a user to extend the volume of a container by expanding the lid when desired.
The design of the expandable and collapsible lid system allows for a user to employ the functionality for a multitude of uses. In one embodiment the expandable and collapsible lid system is used with conventionally sized containers that are used to store food. Further embodiments include trash receptacles, storage totes, and commercial packaging. While the function of the presented system is clear, the employment of such a system to modify volumes of closed containers is subject to necessity.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in
According to one embodiment, the expandable and collapsible lid system 100 may be arranged as a kit 105. In particular, the expandable and collapsible lid system 100 may further include a set of instructions 107. The instructions 107 may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of the expandable and collapsible lid system 100 such that the expandable and collapsible lid system 100 can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner.
The lid 110 may further include an aperture 130 that allows the passage of fluids, such as gases, therethrough. The aperture 130 may be sealable, creating a fluid-proof barrier that impedes the passage of solid matter, vapors, liquids, and gasses. The aperture 130 may be useful for adjusting the volume defined by the lid 110 and the container 120 when the lid 110 is in an expanded 112, and alternatively, a collapsed state 114. In operation, the lid 110 is attached to a container 120, the aperture 130 is opened, the lid 110 is modified to an expanded 112 or a collapsed state 114, and the aperture 130 is then closed. The aperture 130 allows for a pressure to equalize when modifying the volume defined by the lid 110 and the container 120. The aperture 130 further may act as a heat and pressure release. The expandable and collapsible lid system 100 system may be resistant to heat. The material and design of the expandable and collapsible lid system 100 system is configured to endure microwave radiation. Further, the lid 110, and accompanying container 120, may be resistant to cold temperatures. These disparate temperature conditions may be accommodated by the unique composition and method of manufacture. In a standard embodiment, the lid 110 may comprise materials including silicon, plastic, rubber, and compositions thereof. Further conceived compositions are considered of materials suitable for providing an expandable and collapsible lid system 100 system as described.
While the expandable and collapsible lid system 100 system is illustrated in the present document as being substantially circular in shape, alternative sizes and shapes of the lid(s) 110 may be considered. Shape and size may be defined and manifested through necessity, availability, and function. In the presented embodiments the expandable and collapsible lid system 100 system may be substantially circular. However, in other embodiments the expandable and collapsible lid system 100 system may be substantially square. Function and usage may also dictate the expandable and collapsible lid system 100 system. For instance, the expandable and collapsible lid system 100 system may be employed as a waste receptacle.
It should be noted that step 506 is an optional step and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.
The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/660,672 filed Apr. 20, 2018, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62660672 | Apr 2018 | US |
