Container having a Changeable Sealed Volume

Abstract

A container ( 10 ) having a base ( 11 ), a lid ( 12 ) and a press ( 14 ). The base ( 11 ) and the lid ( 12 ) are removably connectable together to define an interior space. With the base ( 11 ) and the lid ( 12 ) connected together, the press engages the inside surface of the base ( 11 ) to form a substantially sealed chamber ( 32 ) within the interior space. The press ( 14 ) is movable within the interior space to change the volume of the chamber ( 32 ) through relative rotation between at least two of the base ( 11 ), the lid ( 12 ) and the press ( 14 ).

1 . A container having:
 a base,   a lid,   a press,   
       the base and lid being removably connectable together to define an interior space, 
       with the base and lid connected together, the press engages the inside surface of the base to form a substantially sealed chamber within the interior space between the press and the base, the press being movable within the interior space to change the volume of the chamber through relative rotation between at least two of the base, the lid and the press. 
     
     
         2 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the press is movable relative to the lid to change the volume of the chamber. 
     
     
         3 . A container according to  claim 2 , wherein the press is threadably connected to the lid, such that with the base and lid connected together, relative rotation between the press and the lid causes movement of the press within the interior space and a change in the volume of the chamber. 
     
     
         4 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid is movable relative to the base to shift the press within the interior space and to change the volume of the chamber. 
     
     
         5 . A container according to  claim 4 , wherein the lid is threadably connected to the base, such that relative rotation between the lid and the base causes movement of the press within the interior space and a change in the volume of the chamber. 
     
     
         6 . A container according to  claim 4  or  5 , the press being connected to the lid and the lid being connectable to the base through a threaded arrangement, the threaded arrangement comprising a main thread formed on one of the base and the lid and a thread engagement portion provided on the other of the base and the lid, the main thread including a slot extending lengthwise through the thread for passage of the thread engagement portion through the main thread, the arrangement being such that the thread engagement portion can be moved through the slot to a position at which threaded engagement with the main thread is required, whereafter the lid can be rotated relative to the base to threadably engage the thread engagement portion with the main thread. 
     
     
         7 . A container according to  claim 6 , the main thread including at least two lengthwise extending slots and the threaded arrangement including a thread engagement portion for each slot. 
     
     
         8 . A container according to  claim 7 , the main thread including three lengthwise extending slots, generally spaced equidistantly apart and the threaded arrangement including three thread engagement portions being one portion for each slot. 
     
     
         9 . A container according to any one of  claims 6  to  8 , the main thread comprising a multi-start thread. 
     
     
         10 . A container according to  claim 9 , the multi-start thread being a four start thread. 
     
     
         11 . A container according to any one of  claims 6  to  8 , the main thread comprising a plurality of non-continuous threads. 
     
     
         12 . A container according to any one of  claims 6  to  11 , the threaded arrangement permitting further movement of the lid relative to base after the thread engagement portion has threadably engaged the main thread by rotation of the lid relative to the base. 
     
     
         13 . A container according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the lid is connectable to the base at two lengthwise spaced apart positions, the connection at the first position providing a first interior space volume and the connection at the second position providing a second interior space volume which is reduced compared to the first interior space volume. 
     
     
         14 . A container according to  claim 13 , wherein the first interior space volume is about twice the volume of the second interior space volume 
     
     
         15 . A container according to  claim 13  or  14 , the lid including a pair of coaxial wall portions which define an annular cavity into which the wall of the base extends, the base being positioned relative to the lid by engagement of the base wall within the annular cavity at least two positions of engagement within the annular cavity 
     
     
         16 . A container according to any one of  claims 13  to  15 , the connections at the first and second positions comprising a projection extending from one of the lid and the base, which is received within a recess provided in the other of the lid and the base. 
     
     
         17 . A container according to  claim 16 , the projection being inserted into the recess by relative rotation between the lid and the base. 
     
     
         18 . A container according to  claim 17 , the projection being a frictional fit within the recess. 
     
     
         19 . A container according to any one of  claims 1  to  18 , wherein the engagement between the press and the inside surface of the base permits escape of air from within the chamber as the volume of the chamber reduces upon movement of the press within the interior space relative to the base. 
     
     
         20 . A container according to any one of  claims 1  to  19 , wherein the engagement between the press and the inside surface of the base permits ingress of air from outside the chamber as the volume of the chamber increases upon movement of the press within the interior space relative to the base. 
     
     
         21 . A container according to any one of  claims 1  to  20 , the container including an exhaust opening for exhaust of air within the chamber as the volume of the chamber reduces upon movement of the press within the interior space relative to the base. 
     
     
         22 . A container according to  claim 21 , the exhaust opening permitting ingress of air into the chamber as the volume of the chamber increases upon movement of the press within the interior space relative to the base. 
     
     
         23 . A container according to  claim 21  or  22 , the opening being closable by a plug. 
     
     
         24 . A container according to any one of  claims 21  to  23 , the opening extending through the press and opening to atmosphere. 
     
     
         25 . A container according to any one of  claims 21  to  24 , each of the opening and the plug being elongate. 
     
     
         26 . A container according to any one of  claims 22  to  25 , the opening including a valve which permits escape of air from within the chamber as the volume of the chamber reduces upon movement of the press within the interior space relative to the base and which substantially resists ingress of air into the chamber through the opening. 
     
     
         27 . A container according to  claim 26 , wherein the valve is operable to allow selected passage of air into and out of the chamber. 
     
     
         28 . A container according to any one of  claims 21  to  27 , the opening including a filter to resist ingress of matter within the chamber into the opening. 
     
     
         29 . A container according to any one of  claims 1  to  28 , each of the base and the lid being cylindrical. 
     
     
         30 . A container according to any one of  claims 1  to  29 , wherein the base, the lid and the press are coaxially aligned when the base and lid are connected together. 
     
     
         31 . A container having:
 a base,   a lid,   a press,   
       the base and lid being removably connectable together to define an interior space, 
       with the base and lid connected together, the press engages the inside surface of the base to form a substantially sealed chamber within the interior space between the press and the base, the press being movable within the interior space to change the volume of the chamber by a linear arrangement. 
     
     
         32 . A container according to  claim 31 , the linear arrangement including a ratchet and pawl mechanism having a ratchet member which extends through the lid and which is in cooperation with a pawl which is associated with the lid, the ratchet and pawl mechanism allowing the press to be moved relative to the lid in a first direction within the interior space to reduce the volume of the chamber and to be locked in position by the pawl engaging with the ratchet member, and allowing the press to be moved relative to the lid in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, by disengagement of the pawl from the ratchet member. 
     
     
         33 . A container according to  claim 32 , the pawl being biased towards a position of engagement with the ratchet member. 
     
     
         34 . A container according to  claim 32  or  33 , the ratchet member extending centrally through the lid, generally axially of the base. 
     
     
         35 . A container having:
 a base,   a lid,   a press connected to or formed part of the lid,   
       the base and lid being removably connectable together by slidable engagement of the lid with the inside surface of the base, 
       with the base and lid connected together, a substantially sealed chamber is formed between the lid and the base and the lid and the press are secured in place relative to the base, the circumference of the lid being expandable and contractable to permit the lid to be disengaged from the inside surface of the base so as to be movable within the interior space to change the volume of the chamber and to remove the lid from the base. 
     
     
         36 . A container according to  claim 35 , wherein the lid is of a flexible material that in a relaxed state, is of a size to engage the inside surface of the base sufficiently to hold the lid and press in place relative to the base and wherein an actuator is employed to distort the flexible material in a manner to withdraw the lid from engagement with the inside surface of the base, or at least to reduce the engagement force, so that the lid and press can be moved within the base. 
     
     
         37 . A container according to  claim 36 , the actuator includes an arrangement to apply an axial force to the lid which retracts the circumference of the lid radially. 
     
     
         38 . A container having:
 a base defining an interior space and a press,   the base and press being removably connectable together and in that connected condition, the press engaging the inside surface of the base to form a substantially sealed chamber within the interior space of the base, the press being movable within the interior space to change the volume of the chamber through relative rotation between the base and the press.