Volume-reducing overlapping-scale container system and method

Abstract

A volume-reducing overlapping-scale container system and method for reducing empty air space within the container as the contents are removed, providing a spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body with a continuous downward spiraling groove along a cylindrical side surface having overlapping scales that provide added structure to the container while allowing easy cutting from an acute angle, and providing a cutting cap to seal the container body, and having mounted inside a reducing cutter to follow and cut through the continuous downward spiraling groove when the cutting cap is turned in a nominally clockwise direction, yielding a smaller container and a tail of removed material, a tail channel within the cutting cap to allow passage of the tail of removed material out of the cutting cap, and a tail-trimming cutter that moves away from the tail of removed material during clockwise rotation of the cutting cap, and moves into and cuts the tail of removed material when the cutting cap is rotated counterclockwise.

Claims

1. A volume-reducing overlapping-scale container for reducing empty air space within the container as the contents are removed, having a nominally clockwise direction for sealing and counterclockwise direction for opening, the volume-reducing overlapping-scale container comprising: (i) a spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body of substantially cylindrical shape, with sides and a bottom and an open top, providing a continuous downward spiraling groove along the cylindrical side surface having a clockwise direction; (ii) a cutting cap adapted to fit upon and seal the open top of said spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body; (iii) a reducing cutter mounted inside said cutting cap, adapted to follow and cut through the continuous downward spiraling groove of said spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body when turned in a clockwise direction, yielding a smaller container and a tail of removed material; (iv) a tail channel formed within said cutting cap adapted to allow passage of the tail of removed material out of said cutting cap; and (v) a tail-trimming cutter within said tail channel adapted to move away from the tail of removed material during clockwise rotation of said cutting cap, and to move into and cut the tail of removed material when said cutting cap is rotated counterclockwise; where, in use, as contents are removed from said volume-reducing overlapping-scale container, said cutting cap is rotated clockwise such that said reducing cutter moves past an initial location on the continuous downward spiraling groove of said spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body, and makes a further cut into the groove, yielding a smaller container and a tail of removed material, which follows said tail channel toward exiting said cutting cap; and where, in use, upon counterclockwise rotation of said cutting cap, said tail-trimming cutter moves into contact with and cuts the tail of removed material.

2. The volume-reducing overlapping-scale container of claim 1, where said reducing cutter further comprises a blade.

3. The volume-reducing overlapping-scale container of claim 1, where said reducing cutter further comprises a steel blade.

4. The volume-reducing overlapping-scale container of claim 1, where said reducing cutter further comprises a ceramic blade.

5. The volume-reducing overlapping-scale container of claim 1, where said tail-trimming cutter further comprises a pivoting blade.

6. The volume-reducing overlapping-scale container of claim 1, where said tail-trimming cutter further comprises a cam-driven blade.

7. The volume-reducing overlapping-scale container of claim 1, where the non-grooved portion of the exterior surface of said spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body extends outward to form a substantially zig-zag profile.

8. The volume-reducing overlapping-scale container of claim 1, where the non-grooved portion of the exterior surface of said spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body do not extend outward, thereby forming a substantially flat profile exclusive of the grooves.

9. The volume-reducing overlapping-scale container of claim 1, where said spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body is made from a plastic material.

10. The volume-reducing overlapping-scale container of claim 1, where said cutting cap is made from a plastic material.

11. A volume-reducing overlapping-scale container method for reducing empty air space within the container as the contents are removed, comprising: (i) providing a volume-reducing overlapping-scale container apparatus, further comprising: (a) a spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body of substantially cylindrical shape, with sides and a bottom and an open top, providing a continuous downward spiraling groove along the cylindrical side surface having a clockwise direction; (b) a cutting cap adapted to fit upon and seal the open top of said spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body; (c) a reducing cutter mounted inside said cutting cap, adapted to follow and cut through the continuous downward spiraling groove of said spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body when turned in a clockwise direction, yielding a smaller container and a tail of removed material; (d) a tail channel formed within said cutting cap adapted to allow passage of the tail of removed material out of said cutting cap; and (e) a tail-trimming cutter within said tail channel adapted to move away from the tail of removed material during clockwise rotation of said cutting cap, and to move into and cut the tail of removed material when said cutting cap is rotated counterclockwise; and (ii) using said volume-reducing overlapping-scale container apparatus such that, as contents are removed from said volume-reducing overlapping-scale container apparatus, said cutting cap is rotated clockwise such that said reducing cutter moves past an initial location on the continuous downward spiraling groove of said spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body, and makes a further cut into the groove, yielding a smaller container and a tail of removed material, which follows said tail channel toward exiting said cutting cap; and upon counterclockwise rotation of said cutting cap, said tail-trimming cutter moves into contact with and cuts the tail of removed material.

12. The volume-reducing overlapping-scale container method of claim 11, where said reducing cutter further comprises a blade.

13. The volume-reducing overlapping-scale container method of claim 11, where said reducing cutter further comprises a steel blade.

14. The volume-reducing overlapping-scale container method of claim 11, where said reducing cutter further comprises a ceramic blade.

15. The volume-reducing overlapping-scale container method of claim 11, where said tail-trimming cutter further comprises a pivoting blade.

16. The volume-reducing overlapping-scale container method of claim 11, where said tail-trimming cutter further comprises a cam-driven blade.

17. The volume-reducing overlapping-scale container method of claim 11, where the non-grooved portion of the exterior surface of said spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body extends outward to form a substantially zig-zag profile.

18. The volume-reducing overlapping-scale container method of claim 11, where the non-grooved portion of the exterior surface of said spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body do not extend outward, thereby forming a substantially flat profile exclusive of the grooves.

19. The volume-reducing overlapping-scale container method of claim 11, where said spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body is made from a plastic material.

20. The volume-reducing overlapping-scale container method of claim 11, where said cutting cap is made from a plastic material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the volume-reducing overlapping-scale container of the invention in two states of being reduced in use;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective detail view of the cutting cap of the volume-reducing overlapping-scale container of the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective section view of the volume-reducing overlapping-scale container of the invention in two states of being reduced in use;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective section view of the volume-reducing overlapping-scale container of the invention in two states of being reduced in use;

(6) FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway plan view of the volume-reducing overlapping-scale container of the invention in use with the tail-trimming cutter disengaged; and

(7) FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway plan view of the volume-reducing overlapping-scale container of the invention in use with the tail-trimming cutter engaged.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) Referring to FIG. 1, as well as all of the figures generally, the volume-reducing overlapping-scale container of the invention is shown. As illustrated, the cylindrical sides of the container can be cut away in increments corresponding to the volume of contents that are removed, reducing the volume of the container to correspond to the volume of remaining contents. The overlapping scales of the cylindrical sides of the container provide additional structure, providing additional strength but with flexibility, while allowing easy cutting from the acute cutting angle provided by the invention, which cuts between the overlapping scales.

(9) The volume-reducing overlapping-scale container 10 provides a spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body 1 and a cutting cap 2. The spiral groove is formed as a continuous downward spiraling groove. By convention, tightening the cap is achieved by clockwise rotation and loosening the cap is achieved by counterclockwise rotation. The spiral groove runs downward in a clockwise or tightening direction.

(10) The spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body 1 can be constructed out of a plastic or a coated paper or cardboard material. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is a suitable material. The material should yield cut edges that are not dangerously sharp.

(11) The cutting cap 2 can be constructed from a material having enough stiffness to form and hold a spiraling thread and a void channel, and to securely hold a fixed and a moving cutting blade. A plastic such as polypropylene (PP) is a suitable material.

(12) Referring additionally to FIG. 2, the cutting cap 2 has an internal spiraling thread corresponding to the spiraling groove of the spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body 1, such that rotating of the cap causes a tightening or loosening of the cap. The cutting cap 2 provides a reducing cutter 3 mounted inside the cap such that it follows the clockwise downward spiraling groove of the spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body 1 and cuts through the container body. The cutting cap 2 provides an acute angle of cutting, which cuts underneath and between the overlapping scales of the spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body 1. FIG. 3 illustrates the placement of the reducing cutter 3 corresponding to the continuous downward spiraling groove of the spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body 1.

(13) The cutting cap 2 provides a tail channel 4 void space through to the outside of the cap. The tail of container-body material, which is cut away by the reducing cutter 3, will pass through the tail channel and out of the cutting cap 2.

(14) The cutting cap 2 also provides a tail-trimming cutter 5, the operation of which will be treated below.

(15) Referring to FIG. 4, in use, at rest, the cutting cap 2 will be tightened to the spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body 1 and the container will be closed or sealed. The reducing cutter 3 will be resting against the end of the uncut portion of the spiral groove, which will be considered to be an initial location. The cutting cap 2 can be loosened and removed from the spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body 1 by counterclockwise rotation, and part of the contents of the container can be removed. When the cutting cap 2 is replaced, the reducing cutter 3 will encounter resistance by the uncut portion of the spiral groove at the nominal initial location. Further clockwise rotation of the cutting cap 2 causes the reducing cutter 3 to cut through the spiral groove. The resulting tail of removed material will move into the tail channel 4 of the cutting cap 2, and move toward the outside of the cap. The cutting cap 2 does not rest upon the portion of the spiral-grooved overlapping-scale container body 1 that has been cut away. As the clockwise rotating progresses, the overall height, and therefore volume, of the container will be reduced, eliminating empty space that would otherwise be left over from the partial removal of contents.

(16) Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, a tail-trimming cutter 5 is provided within the cutting cap 2 for the purpose of cutting or trimming off the tail of removed material. In the illustrated embodiment, the blade of the tail-trimming cutter 5 is mounted on a pivot such that when the cutting cap 2 is being rotated clockwise, the blade is away from cutting contact with the tail of removed material. When the cutting cap 2 is rotated counterclockwise, the tail-trimming cutter 5 pivots into a different position and cuts through the tail of removed material.

(17) Many other changes and modifications can be made in the system and method of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I therefore pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.