Apparatus, system and method for changing a volume

Abstract

An apparatus, a system and a method for changing a volume are provided. More specifically, a system and a method for changing a volume of a container are provided. The container has an initial height defined between a top end and a bottom end. The container has a first section, a second section and/or a third section. The second section of the container is insertable into the first section and/or the third section. The first section and/or the third section is insertable into the second section of the container. The container holds contents, such as, solids, liquids or gases. The container seals the contents from an environment external to the container. As the contents of the container are removed from the container, the environment may fill the container. The first section, the second section and/or the third section may move to change the volume of the container to remove the environment from the container.

Claims

1. An apparatus for storing contents within an adjustable volume to remove air from the adjustable volume to preserve the contents, the apparatus comprising: a first section having a top end and a bottom end wherein the bottom end is opposite to the top end wherein the first section has an interior surface and an exterior surface and further wherein the first section has a first volume to store the contents wherein the first volume is defined between the top end, the bottom end and the interior surface; a second section connected to the first section wherein the second section has a distal end and a proximate end wherein the second section has an outer surface and an inner surface wherein the second section has a second volume to store the contents wherein the first section and the second section have a height defined between the top end of the first section and the distal end of the second section wherein the first volume of the first section and the second volume of the second section form the adjustable volume for storing the contents wherein the height and the adjustable volume are modified by moving the bottom end of the first section to any one of an infinite number of positions between the proximate end and the distal end of the second section wherein the adjustable volume is increased by moving the bottom end of the first section away from the distal end of the second section wherein the adjustable volume is decreased by moving the bottom end of the first section toward the distal end of the second section; a seal between the first section and the second section wherein the seal remains in place while positioning the first section between the proximate end and the distal end of the second section and at any one of the infinite number of positions between the proximate end and the distal end of the second section wherein the outer surface of the first section remains sealed with the inner surface of the second section at any one of the infinite number of positions between the proximate end and the distal end of the second section and further wherein the seal maintains any one of the infinite number of positions of the bottom end of the first section between the proximate end and the distal end of the second section; and a removable cap secured to the top end of the first section to close the top end of the first section wherein the removable cap has a vent that operates as a one-way valve to expel air from the adjustable volume through the vent as the adjustable volume is decreased.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a ring forming the seal between the first section and the second section wherein the ring is constructed from one of the group consisting of rubber, silicone and latex.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a third section connected to the second section.

4. A system for storing contents within a volume wherein the volume is decreased to remove air from the volume to reduce exposure of the contents to the air, the system comprising: a container having an initial height defined between a top end of the container and a bottom end of the container wherein the container has a first section, a second section and a third section positioned between the top end of the container and the bottom end of the container wherein the second section is sized to removably attach to the first section wherein the third section is sized to removably attach to the first section and the second section and further wherein the first section is positioned at and held in place at any one of an infinite number of positions with respect to the second section and further wherein the second section is positioned at and held in place at any one of an infinite number of positions with respect to the third section; a first ring between the first section and the second section to seal the first section to the second section and to hold the first section in place at any one of the infinite number of positions with respect to the second section wherein the first ring seals the first section to the second section at any one of the infinite number of positions with respect to the second section; a second ring between the second section and the third section to seal the second section to the third section and to hold the first section in place at any one of the infinite number of positions with respect to the third section wherein the second ring seals the second section to the third section at any one of the infinite number of positions with respect to the third section; and a removable cap secured to the top end of the container to close the top end of the container wherein the removable cap has a vent that operates as a one-way valve to expel air from the container through the vent as the volume of the container is decreased.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the first ring and the second ring are selected from one of the group consisting of an O-ring, a gasket and a washer.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the first ring and the second ring are integral with the second section so that the position of the first ring and the second ring relative to the second section is maintained when the first section is positioned with respect to the second section and when the second section is positioned with respect to the third section.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the first ring and the second ring are located at opposite ends of the second section.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein the first ring is between an inner surface of the first section and an outer surface of the second section and further wherein the second ring is between an inner surface of the second section and an outer surface of the third section.

9. An apparatus for storing contents within an adjustable volume to remove air from the adjustable volume to preserve the contents, the apparatus comprising: a first section having a top end and a bottom end wherein the bottom end is opposite to the top end wherein the first section has an interior surface and an exterior surface and further wherein the first section has a first volume to store the contents wherein the first volume is defined between the top end, the bottom end and the interior surface; a second section connected to the first section wherein the second section has a distal end and a proximate end wherein the second section has an outer surface and an inner surface wherein the second section has a second volume to store the contents wherein the first section and the second section have a height defined between the top end of the first section and the distal end of the second section wherein the first volume of the first section and the second volume of the second section form the adjustable volume for storing the contents wherein the height and the adjustable volume are modified by moving the bottom end of the first section to any one of an infinite number of positions between the proximate end and the distal end of the second section wherein the adjustable volume is increased by moving the bottom end of the first section away from the distal end of the second section wherein the adjustable volume is decreased by moving the bottom end of the first section toward the distal end of the second section; and a seal between the first section and the second section wherein the seal remains in place while positioning the first section between the proximate end and the distal end of the second section and at any one of the infinite number of positions between the proximate end and the distal end of the second section wherein the outer surface of the first section remains sealed with the inner surface of the second section at any one of the infinite number of positions between the proximate end and the distal end of the second section and further wherein the seal maintains any one of the infinite number of positions of the bottom end of the first section between the proximate end and the distal end of the second section, wherein the seal is integral with the bottom end of the first section and wherein the inner surface of the second section which is contacted by the seal is flat.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising: a ring forming the seal between the first section and the second section wherein the ring is constructed from one of the group consisting of rubber, silicone and latex.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising: a third section connected to the second section.

12. An apparatus for storing contents within an adjustable volume to remove air from the adjustable volume to preserve the contents, the apparatus comprising: a first section having a top end and a bottom end wherein the bottom end is opposite to the top end wherein the first section has an interior surface and an exterior surface and further wherein the first section has a first volume to store the contents wherein the first volume is defined between the top end, the bottom end and the interior surface; a second section connected to the first section wherein the second section has a distal end and a proximate end wherein the second section has an outer surface and an inner surface wherein the second section has a second volume to store the contents wherein the first section and the second section have a height defined between the top end of the first section and the distal end of the second section wherein the first volume of the first section and the second volume of the second section form the adjustable volume for storing the contents wherein the height and the adjustable volume are modified by moving the bottom end of the first section to any one of an infinite number of positions between the proximate end and the distal end of the second section wherein the adjustable volume is increased by moving the bottom end of the first section away from the distal end of the second section wherein the adjustable volume is decreased by moving the bottom end of the first section toward the distal end of the second section; and a seal between the first section and the second section wherein the seal remains in place while positioning the first section between the proximate end and the distal end of the second section and at any one of the infinite number of positions between the proximate end and the distal end of the second section wherein the outer surface of the first section remains sealed with the inner surface of the second section at any one of the infinite number of positions between the proximate end and the distal end of the second section and further wherein the seal maintains any one of the infinite number of positions of the bottom end of the first section between the proximate end and the distal end of the second section, wherein the seal is integral with the proximate end of the second section and wherein the exterior surface of the first section which is contacted by the seal is flat.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising: a ring forming the seal between the first section and the second section wherein the ring is constructed from one of the group consisting of rubber, silicone and latex.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising: a third section connected to the second section.

15. A method for storing contents within an adjustable volume to remove air from the adjustable volume to preserve the contents, the method comprising: providing an apparatus having a first section having a top end and a bottom end wherein the bottom end is opposite to the top end wherein the first section has an interior surface and an exterior surface and further wherein the first section has a first volume to store the contents wherein the first volume is defined between the top end, the bottom end and the interior surface; providing a second section of the apparatus connected to the first section of the apparatus wherein the second section has a distal end and a proximate end wherein the second section has an outer surface and an inner surface wherein the second section has a second volume to store the contents wherein the first section and the second section have a height defined between the top end of the first section and the distal end of the second section wherein the first volume of the first section and the second volume of the second section form the adjustable volume for storing the contents wherein the height and the adjustable volume are modified by moving the bottom end of the first section to any one of an infinite number of positions between the proximate end and the distal end of the second section wherein the adjustable volume is increased by moving the bottom end of the first section away from the distal end of the second section wherein the adjustable volume is decreased by moving the bottom end of the first section toward the distal end of the second section; providing a seal between the first section of the apparatus and the second section of the apparatus; and positioning the first section of the apparatus between the proximate end and the distal end of the second section of the apparatus and at any one of the infinite number of positions between the proximate end and the distal end of the second section of the apparatus wherein the seal remains in place relative to one of the first section and the second section while positioning the first section and further wherein the seal connects the bottom end of the first section to the second section to maintain position and seal with any one of the infinite number of positions between the proximate end and the distal end of the second section.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the seal remains in place relative to the first section while positioning the first section and further wherein the seal moves relative to the second section while positioning the first section.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the seal remains in place relative to the second section while positioning the first section and further wherein the seal moves relative to the first section while positioning the first section.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising: sealing the container by attaching a cap to the top end of the container.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising: removing the cap from the top end of the container.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the cap is attached to the top end of the container and removed from the top end of the container by twisting the cap.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates a side plan view of an apparatus and a system for changing a volume of the same in an embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a container in an embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 illustrates a side plan view of a container with a first ring and a second ring in an embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4a illustrates a cross-sectional view of a section of a container having a ring in an embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4b illustrates a cross-sectional view of a section of a container having threads in an embodiment of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 4c illustrates a cross-sectional view of a section of a container having lips and notches in an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(7) The present invention relates to an apparatus, a system and a method for changing a volume. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and a method for changing a volume of a container. The container may have a height defined by a top end and a bottom end. The container may have a number of sections and/or a number of portions which may connect, may secure and/or may attach to form the height of the container. Each section and/or each portion may have an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of each portion and/or each section may define the volume of the container between the top end and the bottom end of the container. The container may hold and/or may store contents, for example, solids, gases and/or liquids within the volume of the container.

(8) An environment external to the container may be separated from the volume of the container by the outer surface of the container. The environment may be the atmosphere, air, water and/or the like. The contents of the container may be used and/or removed from the volume of the container. As a result, an amount of the environment may fill and/or may enter the volume of the container. Each section and/or each portion of the container may be movable to change the height and/or to change the volume of the container. For example, a first section may be insertable into a second section to decrease the size, the height and/or the volume of the container. Changing the volume of the container may remove at least a portion of the amount of environment that previously entered the container.

(9) Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts, FIG. 1 illustrates a container 3 which may have a first section 9, a second section 11 and/or a third section 13. The container 3 may have a height, H, defined between a top end 5 and a bottom end 7. The top end 5 may be opposite to the bottom end 7. The first section 9 of the container 3 may have an exterior surface 25 and an interior surface 27, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The second section 11 of the container 3 may have an exterior surface 29 and an interior surface 31. The third section 13 of the container 3 may have an exterior surface 33 and an interior surface 35. The exterior surfaces 25,29,33 may separate an environment external to the container 3 from the volume V of the container 3. The environment may be, for example, the atmosphere, liquids, gases and/or solids.

(10) The volume V of the container 3 may store and/or may hold contents (not shown), such as, for example, solids, liquids and/or gases. The container 3 may be, for example, a soda bottle which may hold, for example, soda and/or air within the volume V. As other examples, the container 3 may be, for example, a bottle, a can, a jug and/or the like. The container 3 may hold, for example, water, juice, soda, paint, milk and/or the like.

(11) Referring now to FIG. 2, a first ring 15 may be located and/or positioned between the first section 9 and the second section 11 of the container 3. The first ring 15 may be integrally formed with the first section 9 and/or the second section 11 of the container 3. The second section 11 may be removably attached to and/or may be connected to the third section 13 of the container 3 by a second ring 17. The rings 15,17 may be used for removeably sealing and/or removeably connecting the sections 9,11,13. The present invention should not be limited to a specific number of sections of the container 3 and/or a specific number of rings. It should be understood that the container 3 may be any number of sections and/or any number of rings as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

(12) The first ring 15 and/or the second ring 17 may seal the interior surfaces 27,31 from the exterior surfaces 25,29. The first ring 15 and/or the second ring 17 may be, for example, an o-ring, a rubber gasket, a washer and/or the like. The rings 15,17 may be made from, for example, rubber, silicone, latex, and/or the like. The first section 9 may be inserted within the container 3 toward the bottom end 7 of the container 3. The first ring 15 may seal and/or may be positioned between the interior surface 31 of the second section 11 and the exterior surface 25 of the first section 9. The first section 9 may be inserted within the container 3 and may removably attach to the interior surface 31 of the second section 11. The second section 11 may insert into the third section 13 and may seal and/or removably attach to the interior surface 35 of the third section 13.

(13) The container 3 may be enclosed by a cap 19 which may secure to, may connect to and/or may removably attach to the top end 5 of the container 3. The cap 19 may prevent contents within the volume V of the container 3 from leaking and/or exiting from the container 3. The cap 19 may screw, may snap and/or may twist onto the top end 5 of the container 3.

(14) The cap 5 may have a vent 23. The vent 23 may function as a one-way valve. To this end, the vent 23 may have an opening that may extend from the interior surface 27 of the first section 9 through the exterior surface 25 of the container 3. The vent 23 may open to release the environment and/or the contents of the container 3. The vent 23 may prevent the environment from entering the container 3. The vent 23, therefore, provides communication from the interior surface 27 of the container 3 to release contents, i.e. the environment from within the container 3, from the interior to the exterior while preventing the environment to enter the container 3.

(15) FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the container 3 in an embodiment of the present invention. The inner surfaces 27,31,35 of the container 3 may hold and/or may store the contents of the container 3. The first section 9 of the container 3 may have a top end 8 and a bottom end 10 which may have a volume V′. The second section 11 may be located between the bottom end 10 of the first section 9 and a distal end 14. The second section may have a volume V″. The third section 13 may be positioned between the distal end 14 of the second section and the bottom end 7 of the container 3. The third section 13 may have a volume V′″. Adding volume V′, volume V″ and V′″ may total the volume V of the container 3.

(16) FIG. 3 illustrates a side plan view of the container 3 in an embodiment of the present invention. The contents of the container 3 may be removed from the first section 9 of the container 3. As the contents of the first section 9 of the container 3 are emptied and/or removed, air may fill the volume V′ of the first section 9. To remove the air from the interior of the container 3, the first section 9 may insert and/or may move into the second section 11. Accordingly, the volume V of the container 3 may be decreased to the volume V′ of the first section 9 plus the volume V′″ of the third section 13 of the container 3. Alternatively, the first section 9 may insert partially into the second section 11 to change the volume V of the container 3. The height H of the container 3 may decrease to a smaller height H′.

(17) Air, for example, from the environment may be removed from the container 3 by the vent 23 and/or by removing the cap 19 to allow the air to be removed through the top end 5 of the container 3. The air may be forced and/or pushed from the interior of the container 3 as the first section 9 is inserted into the second section 11. Likewise, the second section 11 may be depressed and/or inserted into the third section 13 to change the volume V of the container 3.

(18) FIGS. 4a-4c illustrate cross-sectional views of embodiments of a section 20 of the container 3. The section 20, as illustrated in FIG. 1, may be one or more of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 4a-4c. FIG. 4a illustrates an embodiment of the section 20 having the first ring 15 and the second ring 17. The first ring 15 of the first section 9 may seal the first section 9 from the second section 11. The second ring 17 may seal to the first section 9 and/or the second section 11 from the third section 13.

(19) The interior surfaces 31,35 of the container 3 may have indentations 41a-41f which may be, for example, grooves, depressions, creases and/or the like. The indentations 41a-41f may be formed within the interior surface 31 of the second section 11 and/or the interior surface 35 of the third section 13. The indentations 41a-41f may secure and/or may position the first ring 15 and/or the second ring 17.

(20) FIG. 4b illustrates a cross-sectional view of the section 20 in an embodiment of the container 3 having threads 51a-51h. The threads 51a-51h may be, for example, straight threads, tapered threads, flared threads and/or the like. The first section 9 may have threads 51a, 51b integrally formed with the exterior surface 25 of the first section 9. The threads 51a, 51b may engage the threads 51e, 51f which may integrally formed with the interior surface 31 of the second section 11. The threads 51c, 51d may be integrally formed with the exterior surface 29 of the second section 11. The threads 51c, 51d may engage the threads 51g, 51h. The second section 11 may twist and/or may screw into and/or from the first section 9 and/or the third section 13. The first section 9 and/or the third section 13 may screw into and/or from the second section 11.

(21) FIG. 4c illustrates a cross-sectional view of the section 20 in an embodiment of the container 3. The first section 9 may insert into the second section 11. Lips 61a, 61b may be positioned and/or located between the first section 9 and the second section 11. The lips 61a, 61b may be integrally formed to the first section 9 and/or the second section 11. The lips 61a, 61b may fit into and/or be positioned within notches 63a-63d to seal the first section 9 from the second section 11. The lips 61a, 61b of the first section 9 may be separated from the notches 63a, 63b and/or the notches 63c, 63d of the first section 9 by, for example, twisting, rotating, pushing and/or squeezing the first section 9.

(22) Lips 65a, 65b may be integrally formed with the exterior surface 29 of the second section 11. The lips 65a, 65b may fit into and/or be located within notches 67a-67d and/or notches 71a-71d of the third section 13.

(23) In an embodiment, the first section 9 may rotate with respect to the second section 11 to separate the lips 61a, 61b from the notches 63a-63d. The lips 61a, 61b may be integrally formed with the exterior surface 25 of the first section 9. The first section 9 may insert into the second section 11. The lips 61a, 61b of the first section 9 may fit within the notches 63a, 63b of the second section 11 by rotating the first section 9 with respect to the second section 11.

(24) The container 3 may have the sections 9, 11, 13 which may be movable to change the volume V of the container 3. Contents may be stored and/or may be contained within the container 3. The first section 9 may insert into the second section 11 and/or the third section 13. The second section 11 and/or the third section 13 may secure to and/or may attach to the first section 9. As contents are removed from the first section 9 of the container 3, the environment may fill and/or may enter the volume of the container 3. The volume V of the container 3 may be decreased to remove the environment from the container 3 through the top end 5 and/or the vent 23.

(25) It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is, therefore, intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.