Container

Abstract

A container assembly is provided having a first container having an interior volume defined by a confining end wall and circumferential side wall terminating at a male member containing an opening into said first container. A container segment is provided configured to be detachably coupled to the male member of the first container to extend the volume of the container assembly. The segment includes a substantially tubular side wall, one end of which terminates in a male member surrounding an opening, and terminating at a second and opposite end in a concentric recess surrounding an opening. The concentric recess in the one end of the container segment is configured to receive and form a fluid-tight seal with the male member extending from said first container when in the closed position. A cap or top member having a circumferential sidewall closed at one end and open at an opposite end is also provided. The cap is designed in a manner similar to that of the recess so that it can be readily adapted to close any male member extending from the first container or any container segment.

1 . A container assembly, comprising:
 a first container including an end wall, an upwardly extending circumferential side wall extending from a peripheral edge of said end wall and terminating at a rim encircling an opening in said first container;   a substantially tubular container segment including a rim surrounding an opening at one end and terminating at a second and opposite end in a concentric recess surrounding an opening, said concentric recess including a seating surface configured to engage and form a fluid-tight seal with said rim extending from said first container; and   a cap member having a circumferential sidewall closed at one end and open at an opposite end, said cap member further including a concentric recess terminating in a seating surface configured to engage and form a fluid-tight seal with one of said rim at one end of said container segment and said rim at an end of said first container.   
   
   
       2 . The container assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further including an additional container segment including a substantially tubular body forming a circumferential side wall and open at a first end formed by a male member, and open at a second end formed by a female member, said female member configured to engage and form a fluid-tight seal with said rim at one end of said container segment. 
   
   
       3 . The container assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said rim includes an inverted U-shaped member. 
   
   
       4 . The container assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said rim includes an outer thread circumscribing an outer surface of said rim extending from said container member and said container segment. 
   
   
       5 . The container assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further including an inner thread circumscribing an inner surface of said female member formed at a second end of said container segment member. 
   
   
       6 . The container assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further including a sealing surface formed in said female member of said container segment member for abutting against and sealing an opening formed by said male member of said container member when said container segment member is interconnected to said container member. 
   
   
       7 . The container assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further including a resilient seal disposed in said female member of said container segment member for conforming against and sealing an opening formed by said male member of said container member when said container segment member is interconnected to said container member. 
   
   
       8 . The container assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further including a gasket disposed between said female member of said container segment member and said male member of said container member for forming a fluid-tight seal when said container segment member is interconnected to said container member. 
   
   
       9 . The container assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further including a tamper resistant band covering a joint between said container member and said container segment member. 
   
   
       10 . The container assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said circumferential side wall of said container member and said container segment member have substantially similar outside diameters. 
   
   
       11 . The container assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said circumferential side wall of said container member and said container segment member have substantially similar inside diameters. 
   
   
       12 . The container assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said circumferential side wall of said container member and said container segment member have substantially dissimilar outside diameters. 
   
   
       13 . A method for making a container assembly, comprising the steps of
 blow molding a first container having an end wall, an upwardly extending circumferential side wall extending from a peripheral edge of said end wall and terminating in a rim encircling an opening;   blow molding a container segment including a substantially tubular circumferential side wall, one end of said tubular circumferential side wall terminating in a rim surrounding an opening, and terminating at a second and opposite end in a concentric recess surrounding an opening, said concentric recess including a seating surface configured to engage and form a fluid-tight seal with said rim extending from said first container; and   molding a cap member having a circumferential sidewall closed at one end and open at an opposite end, said cap member further including a concentric recess including a seating surface configured to engage and form a fluid-tight seal with one of said rim at one end of said container segment and said rim at an end of said first container.   
   
   
       14 . The method for making a container assembly as defined in  claim 13 , further including molding an outer thread circumscribing an outer surface of said rim extending from said container member and said container segment. 
   
   
       15 . The method for making a container assembly as defined in  claim 13 , further including molding an inner thread about an inner surface of said female member formed at said second end of said container segment. 
   
   
       16 . The method for making a container assembly as defined in  claim 13 , further including molding a seating surface in said concentric recess in said container segment for abutting against and sealing said opening formed by said male member of said container member when said container segment is interconnected to said container member. 
   
   
       17 . The method for making a container assembly as defined in  claim 13 , further including depositing a resilient seal in said female member in said container segment for sealing against said rim at the end of said male member of said container member when said container segment is interconnected to said container member. 
   
   
       18 . The method for making a container assembly as defined in  claim 13 , further including placing a gasket between said female member of said container segment and said male member of said container member for forming a fluid-tight seal when said container segment is interconnected to said container member. 
   
   
       19 . The method for making a container assembly as defined in  claim 13 , further including forming a tamper resistant band over a joint between said container member and said container segment. 
   
   
       20 . The method for making a container assembly as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said circumferential side wall of said container member and said container segment are molded such that each have substantially similar outside diameters. 
   
   
       21 . The method for making a container assembly as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said circumferential side wall of said container member and said container segment are molded such that each have substantially similar inside diameters. 
   
   
       22 . The method for making a container assembly as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said circumferential side wall of said container member and said container segment are molded such that each have dissimilar outside diameters. 
   
   
       23 . The method for making a container assembly as defined in  claim 13 , further including molding said seating surface to extend entirely across and close an end of said container segment. 
   
   
       24 . The method for making a container assembly as defined in  claim 13 , further including molding said seating surface in the form of an annular channel. 
   
   
       25 . The method for making a container assembly as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said rim is formed in a profile of an inverted U-shape rim. 
   
   
       26 . The method for making a container assembly as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said rim is formed in a substantially circular profile.