Container construction with selectable volume

Abstract

A container is provided including a receptacle with a seamed container sidewall and bottom member secured thereto. The container includes a lid. The bottom member is selected to provide a desired container volume with the bottom member having an inner convex surface. A plurality of differently contoured bottom members may be provided to permit selection of a container volume by selecting a container bottom member.

1 . A container for storing food, said container comprising:
 a container receptacle comprising a sidewall having opposite ends and a seam extending between the opposite ends, one end being open and one end being closed with a bottom member secured to the sidewall, said sidewall and bottom member defining a storage chamber accessible through said open end, said sidewall having an inside perimeter forming an opening at the open end substantially at least as large as any portion of the inside perimeter of the sidewall between the opposite ends thereof, said bottom member having a convex interior surface extending toward the open end from its outer perimeter at the sidewall and a concave outer surface, the angle of convexity of a majority of the bottom member cross sectional shape is in the range of between about 5° and about 30°.   
     
     
         2 . The container as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the sidewall being a wrapped convolute sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . The container as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the sidewall seam extends generally longitudinally between the opposite ends. 
     
     
         4 . The container as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the bottom member being secured to the sidewall adjacent an outer perimeter of the bottom member. 
     
     
         5 . The container as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the bottom member being formed from a polymeric material. 
     
     
         6 . The container as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the sidewall being formed of at least one of a paperboard sheet and a polymeric sheet. 
     
     
         7 . The container as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the container receptacle having a skirt member extending inwardly from the sidewall at the end adjacent the bottom member and secured to an outer perimeter portion of the bottom member. 
     
     
         8 . The container as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the skirt member being generally normal to a side panel of the sidewall and an inner surface portion of the skirt overlying and being secured to an outer surface portion of the bottom member. 
     
     
         9 . The container as set forth in  claim 8  wherein the side panel and skirt being formed from paperboard and the bottom member being formed from polymeric material. 
     
     
         10 . The container as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the seam extends generally helically between the opposite ends. 
     
     
         11 . A container for storing food, said container comprising:
 a seamed sidewall having opposite ends, one end being open and one end having an inturned skirt having an inner surface facing generally toward the open end, said sidewall having an inner perimeter adjacent the open end defining an access opening at least as large as the remainder of the transverse cross sectional size of an interior chamber at least partially defined by the sidewall; and   a bottom member having a generally convex inner surface and a generally concave outer surface, said bottom member having an outer perimeter portion overlying and secured to the sidewall adjacent the skirt, said convex surface being positioned between a plane defined by an outer surface of the skirt and a plane defined by an end edge of the open end of the sidewall.   
     
     
         12 . The container as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the sidewall having a generally cylindrical side panel portion. 
     
     
         13 . The container as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the sidewall having a generally frustoconical side panel portion. 
     
     
         14 . The container as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the sidewall having a generally oval side panel portion in transverse cross section. 
     
     
         15 . The container as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the sidewall being formed of paperboard and the bottom member being formed of polymeric material. 
     
     
         16 . The container as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the sidewall seam includes overlapping side edge portions of a side panel of the sidewall joined together. 
     
     
         17 . The container as set forth in  claim 16  wherein the sidewall seam extends generally longitudinally between the opposite ends of the sidewall. 
     
     
         18 . The container as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the sidewall being formed of polymeric material and the bottom member being formed of polymeric material. 
     
     
         19 . A method of making a food container comprising:
 forming a sidewall having opposite open end portions;   forming an inturned skirt at one said end portion whereby the skirt has an inner surface generally facing the other said end portion;   forming a bottom member separate from the sidewall, said formed bottom member having generally opposing first and second surfaces, said first surface having at least a majority thereof being generally convex;   positioning an outer perimeter portion of the second surface adjacent the inner surface to provide overlapping surfaces; and   joining the bottom member to the sidewall adjacent the skirt.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  including forming a seam in the sidewall by overlapping side margin portions of a side panel and joining the side margin portions together. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the bottom member is joined to the sidewall by adhesion. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein bottom member is positioned adjacent an end portion of the sidewall and then the skirt is formed. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  including forming a plurality of first bottom members having a first convex contour and a plurality of second bottom members with a second convex contour each adapted to be secured to a respective said sidewall of a plurality of commonly sized and shaped sidewalls. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  including selecting one of the first bottom members or second bottom members and joining them each to a respective sidewall, said selecting being based on desired container volume.