Adjustable Volume Rigid Container

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 ApplicableTHE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT[0003]Not ApplicableINCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC[0004]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND 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 ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[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'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.

[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.

Problems solved by technology

For many fluids, air can cause deterioration of the fluid over time.

These products are also difficult to clean because the bladder must be removed from within the hard sided container.

The cleaning of the components is also difficult due to the nature of construction of the components.

The cleaning of the components is also difficult due to the nature of construction of the components.

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.

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