CONTAINER WITH INTERNAL LIFT

Abstract

A container having an internal lift has a base at its lower end and an open top at its upper end. A continuous wall extends upward from the base. A retainer is disposed on the inner surface of the container. A lift inserted in the container has a tray at its lower end and an elongated member extends upward from the tray. A plurality of spaced apart retainer contacting segments are disposed along the length of the elongated member. Each retainer contacting segment is capable of cooperating with the retainer in order to suspend the tray above the base of the container at a number of different pre-set vertical positions. Each vertical position corresponds to the location of a different retainer contacting segment.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to storage devices and, in particular, to containers having lift inserts for facilitating the removal of articles, typically foodstuffs, from the container.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Containers having lift inserts for use in food packaging are known in the art. Specifically, known containers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,363,794, 5,551,591, 5,626,266, 6,036,038, 5,634,569 and 5082135. Such devices typically comprise a food storage container provided with an article-removing lift or insert having a tray for supporting the contents of the container, and which is capable of vertical movement along the interior wall of the container via upward force manually applied to a handle of the lift. In many prior art devices, the lift moves in sliding engagement within the container. When the lift is raised, the contents of the container are elevated toward the open mouth of the container, thereby providing access to such contents by a user.

Generally, previous container/lift systems are adapted for two-handed operation, whereby a user manually urges the lift in an upward direction with one hand, and grasps the article supported by the raised tray with his/her free hand. When the user's grip on the lift is released, the tray is left to retreat to its resting position at the bottom of the container. U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,135 issued to DeCoster discloses a food storage receptacle having an insert for moving the contents of the receptacle between a predetermined stored position within the receptacle and one fixed dispensing position wherein the contents are elevated and exposed for direct access thereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a container having a lift for assisting a user in removing articles from the container. The container has a base at its lower end and an open top at its upper end. A continuous wall extends upward from the base. A retainer is disposed on the inner surface of the container. A lift inserted in the container has a tray at its lower end and an elongated member extends upward from the tray. A plurality of spaced apart retainer contacting segments are disposed along the length of the elongated member. Each retainer contacting segment is capable of cooperating with the retainer in order to suspend the tray above the base of the container at a number of different pre-set vertical positions. Each vertical position corresponds to the location of a different retainer contacting segment.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel container with internal lift for use in storing and dispensing goods, typically foodstuffs, having the desired feature of a lift which is capable of being independently suspended in a plurality of pre-set vertical positions above the base of the container. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a container with internal lift that is of simple and economical construction.

These and other objects will become obvious to persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention relates upon examination of the detailed description and the accompanying drawings which follow.

A container for storing and dispensing goods comprises a base at a lower end thereof and at least one wall surrounding the base and extending upward therefrom to a top of the container. The at least one wall has an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface having a retainer located thereon near the top. The top has an opening therein, the container having a lift therein. The lift has a tray with an elongated member extending upward therefrom, the elongated member having a plurality of spaced apart retainer contacting segments disposed along a length thereof. Each of the plurality of retainer contacting segments is capable of suspending the tray above the base of the container at a different vertical position, there being a multitude of vertical positions, wherein each vertical position corresponds to the location of a different retainer contacting segment contacting the retainer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container and lift from a front with the lift in a rest position and the container partially cut away;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 when viewed from a side with the container partially cut away;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 in a use position with the lift raised above a base;

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the container and a side view of the lift of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the lift; and

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the lift of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1, a container is shown generally at reference numeral 2. The container 2 comprises a base 4 at its lower end 6 and at least one wall 8 surrounding the base 4 and extending upward therefrom to a top 5. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one wall 8 is continuous and extends substantially perpendicular to the base 4. The at least one wall 8 may take on a cylindrical configuration, but of course, other shapes are possible. A retainer 10 is affixed to an interior surface 12 of the wall 8 in the vicinity of the upper end 14 of the container 2. A lift 16 comprises a tray 18 with an elongated member 20 extending upward therefrom. The elongated member 20 has a handle 22 at an upper end 24. The tray 18 has an upper surface 28 and a lower surface 30. A plurality of retainer contacting segments 32 are disposed along a length of the elongated member 20. Each of the plurality of retainer contacting segments 32 is designed to cooperate with the retainer 10 for the purpose of enabling a user to suspend the lift 16 above the base 4 of the container 2 at the location of retainer contacting segment cooperation. In this way, the lift 16 may be held in a multitude of pre-set vertical positions above the base 4 of the container 2.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the lift 16 is shown in a rest position within the container 2, wherein the lower surface 30 of the tray 18 is resting on the base 4 of the container 2 and an uppermost retainer contacting segment 32 of the elongated member 20 is in operational contact the retainer 10. Alternatively, in the rest position, the retainer contacting segments 32 can be out of contact with the retainer 10. Proper function does not require the tray 18 to be in contact or even close proximity to the base 4 when the lift 16 is in the rest position. Notably, in the rest position, it can be seen that the handle 22 of the elongated member 20 is located just below the top 5 of the at least one wall 8. The top 5 has an opening 34 therein. Preferably, the tray 18 is sized to fit within the opening 34 and has an area that is slightly smaller than a cross-sectional area of the container 2. A cover 36 shown in FIG. 1 can be adapted for placement over the open top 5 of the container 2 in sealing engagement with a periphery of the top 5, without interference from any portion of the lift 16. The cover is conventional and is sized and shaped to close off the opening 34. For example, the cover can have a screw thread corresponding to a screw thread on the container (not shown) or the cover can snap onto the container (not shown).

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the lift 16 in a use position wherein a retainer contacting segment 32 other than the uppermost retainer contacting segment is in operable contact with the retainer 10 which in turn causes the tray 18 to be suspended above the base 4. Each retainer contacting segment 32 is capable of operably contacting, or cooperating with, the retainer 10 in order to suspend the tray 18 above the base 4 of the container at a different pre-set vertical position, wherein each vertical position corresponds to the location of a different retainer contacting segment 32 in contact with the retainer 10.

In operation, a user will grasp the handle 22 of the elongated member 20 and release the lift 16 from its contact with the retainer 10. Next, the user will apply an upward force to the lift 16 in order to raise the elongated member 20, and accordingly the tray 18, within the container. Upon reaching a desired vertical position, the user will manoeuvre the lift 16 back into contact with the retainer 10 at the location of one of the retainer contacting segments 32. Presumably, where the container is nearly empty, in order to access articles within the container 2, the user will raise and position the tray 18 into alignment with the upper portion of the container 2 by attaching a retainer contacting segment 32 located within the lower portion of the elongated member 20 to the retainer 10. In contrast, where the container 2 is substantially full of articles, the user will raise and position the tray 18 into alignment with the lower portion of the container 2 by attaching a retainer contacting segment 32 located within the upper portion of the elongated member 20 to the retainer 10.

Preferably, the retainer 10 is a hook affixed to the interior surface 12 of the container 2 and just below the open top 5. Preferably, the plurality of retainer contacting segments 32 are a series of apertures disposed along the length of the elongated member 20, wherein the hook 10 may be inserted into each aperture in order to hold the lift 16 in position.

The lift is best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Preferably, the retainer contacting segments 32 of the lift 16 are evenly spaced along the length of the elongated member 20. While the Figures show a total of seven (7) retainer contacting segments 32 disposed along the length of the elongated member 20, a person of skill in the art would recognize that any reasonable number of retainer contacting segments can be utilized. As can be seen in FIG. 5, in a preferred embodiment, the tray 18 is substantially normal to the elongated member 20. The lift 16 may be made of any suitable economical and durable material, such as plastic or metal.

Optionally, a perimeter of the tray 18 may have a continuous, upwardly extending flange portion (not shown) for the purpose of facilitating the containment of articles within the upper surface of the tray 18. Further, the surface of the tray 18 may be configured to substantially conform to the shape of the base 4. The tray 18 can have one or more drainage openings (not shown) when the tray is immersed in a liquid within the container when the tray 18 is in the rest position.

Preferably, the container of the present invention is used to store food items and, more preferably, potato chips of the type sold in cylindrical containers or generally cylindrical containers such as, for example, those sold under the name Pringles (a trade mark). The potato chips have an identical shape to one another and are stacked within the container. When the container is filled with potato chips, the lift is in the rest position and the tray is located beneath the stack of chips. When a user wishes to remove some chips from the container, the cover is removed and the lift can be manipulated to move the tray away from the base and affix the lift in the desired position to preferably expose some of the chips above the top 5. The chips above the top 5 are easily accessible to a user and can be removed from the stack and consumer or moved to another location for consumption. When the user does not wish to consume additional chips, the lift can then be manipulated to release the lift from the retainer and return the lift to the rest position. The cover can then be replaced on the container. The next time the user wishes to remove chips from the container, the cover will again be removed and the user will raise the lift to a higher level than previously raised to preferably expose some of the remaining chips above the top 5 and affix the lift in that vertical position. When a user or users are consuming a large number of chips, the user may successively raise the lift from a previous raised and fixed position relative to the base to a higher raised position in which the lift is in contact with the retainer. The method is repeated, as desired, to ultimately remove all of the chips front the container.

Of course, a user may need to raise and fix the tray at any of a series of different vertical positions, depending on the quantity of articles contained within or fullness of the receptacle. Where few articles are contained within the receptacle, in order to access such articles, the user will need to raise and fix the tray into alignment with the upper portion of the receptacle. In contrast, where the receptacle is substantially full of articles, the user need only raise and fix the tray to a position within the lower portion of the receptacle in order to access such articles. In the latter scenario, if the receptacle was substantially full of articles and the tray was raised into the upper portion of the receptacle, then some of the articles would fall out of the receptacle. In order to accommodate different quantities of articles within a container and to provide ready access of a user to such articles, the lift of the present invention is capable of being independently suspended in a plurality of pre-set vertical positions above the base of the container.

In summary, a container for storing and dispensing goods comprises a base at a lower end thereof and at least one wall surrounding the base and extending upward therefrom to a top of the container, the at least one wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface having a retainer located thereon near the top, the top having an opening therein, the container having a lift therein, the lift having a tray with an elongated member extending upward therefrom, the elongated member having a plurality of spaced apart retainer contacting segments disposed along a length thereof, each of the plurality of retainer contacting segments being capable of suspending the tray above the base of the container at a different vertical position, there being a multitude of vertical positions, wherein each vertical position corresponds to the location of a different retainer contacting segment contacting the retainer.

While one or more embodiments of this invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described above, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the essence of this invention. All such modifications are believed to be within the sphere and scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A container for storing and dispensing goods, the container comprising a base at a lower end thereof and at least one wall surrounding the base and extending upward therefrom to a top of the container, the at least one wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface having a retainer located thereon near the top, the top having an opening therein, the container having a lift therein, the lift having a tray with an elongated member extending upward therefrom, the elongated member having a plurality of spaced apart retainer contacting segments disposed along a length thereof, each of the plurality of retainer contacting segments being capable of suspending the tray above the base of the container at a different vertical position, there being a multitude of vertical positions, wherein each vertical position corresponds to the location of a different retainer contacting segment contacting the retainer.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the retainer comprises a hook.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein the retainer contacting segments comprise a plurality of apertures, each aperture being sized to fit onto the retainer.

4. The container of claim 2 wherein the hook is affixed to the inner wall.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein the hook is positioned just below the open top.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein the tray sized to fit within the open top to enable the lift to be inserted into and removed from the container.

7. The container of claim 1 wherein the container additionally comprises a cover for engaging with an upper lip of the at least one wall in order to seal the open top of the container.

8. The container of claim 1 wherein the tray has a flat upper surface.

9. The container of claim 1 wherein the tray is normal to the elongated member.

10. The container of claim 1 wherein the perimeter of the upper surface of the tray is fitted with a continuous, upwardly extending flange portion for facilitating the containment of articles on the upper surface of the tray.

11. The container of claim 3 wherein each aperture is identical in size.

12. The container of claim 1 wherein the elongated member has an upper end comprising a handle.