Container including base with floor having extended position and retracted position, method of filling and method of making thereof

Abstract

The container includes a base with a first sidewall and a floor that define a primary cavity, the floor being attached to a first interior surfaces of the first sidewall, the first sidewall having a first end and a second end, a first lid, the first lid being configured to connect to the first end of the first sidewall to close the primary cavity, and a second lid, the second lid being configured to connect to the second end of the sidewall to close a secondary cavity that is defined in part by the floor, the floor including an extended position that expands a first volume of the primary cavity and reduces a second volume of the secondary cavity, the floor including a retracted position that reduces the first volume of the primary cavity and expands the second volume of the secondary cavity.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A container, comprising:
 a base with at least one first sidewall and a floor that define a primary cavity, the floor being attached to a first interior surfaces of the at least one first sidewall, the at least one first sidewall having a first end and a second end;   a first lid, the first lid being configured to connect to the first end of the at least one first sidewall to close the primary cavity; and   a second lid, the second lid being configured to connect to the second end of the at least one first sidewall to close a secondary cavity that is defined in part by the floor,   the floor including an extended position that expands a first volume of the primary cavity and reduces a second volume of the secondary cavity, the floor including a retracted position that reduces the first volume of the primary cavity and expands the second volume of the secondary cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the floor includes a center panel that is concentrically centered within an angled annular panel, the angled annular panel being connected to the first interior surfaces via an anchor point, the center panel being at a higher elevation and closer to the first end than the anchor point when the floor is in the retracted position, the center panel being at a lower elevation and closer to the second end than the anchor point when the floor is in the extended position. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the floor includes a center panel that is centered on the floor, the center panel being configured to be pressed in a downward direction toward the second end of the at least one first sidewall to selectively actuate the floor into the extended position, the center panel being configured to be pressed in an upward direction toward the first end of the at least one first sidewall to selectively actuate the floor into the retracted position. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the floor includes an angled annular panel that is between a horizontal annular panel a center panel, the center panel being concentrically centered within the angled annular panel, the horizontal annular panel being directly connected to the at least one first sidewall. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein
 the center panel is closer to the second end of the at least one first sidewall when the floor is in the extended position, and the center panel is closer to the first end of the at least one first sidewall when the floor is in the retracted position, and   major upper and lower surfaces of the center panel are perpendicular to the first interior surfaces when the floor is in the extended position and in the retracted position.   
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the angled annular panel is sloped to radially extend from the horizontal annular panel to the center panel in the downward direction when the floor is in the extended position, and the angled annular panel is sloped to radially extend from the horizontal annular panel to the center panel in the upward direction when the floor is in the retracted position. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein
 the center panel is a first flat panel with first major upper and lower surfaces that are circular in shape, and the angled annular panel is a second flat panel that is frustoconical in shape, and   the horizontal annular panel is a third flat panel with second major upper and lower surfaces that are donut shaped.   
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the floor includes an angled annular panel that is between a horizontal annular panel the at least one first sidewall, the center panel being concentrically centered within the angled annular panel, the horizontal annular panel being directly connected to the at least one first sidewall. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein
 the center panel is closer to the second end of the at least one first sidewall when the floor is in the extended position, and the center panel is closer to the first end of the at least one first sidewall when the floor is in the retracted position, and   major upper and lower surfaces of the center panel are perpendicular to the first interior surfaces when the floor is in the extended position and the retracted position.   
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the center panel is a first flat panel with first major upper and lower surfaces that are circular in shape, and the angled annular panel is a second flat panel that is frustoconical in shape. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein
 the angled annular panel is anchored to the at least one first sidewall via a horizontal annular panel, the horizontal annular panel being directly connected to the at least one first sidewall, and   first major upper and lower surfaces of the horizontal annular panel and second major upper and lower surfaces of the center panel remain parallel to each other when the floor is in the extended position and in the retracted position.   
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein at least one second sidewall and a first annular inner wall extend from a second interior surfaces of the second lid, a first annular cavity being defined by the at least one second sidewall and the first annular inner wall. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein
 a second annular inner wall extends from a lower surface of the floor, a second annular cavity being defined by the second end of the at least one first sidewall and the second annular inner wall, and   the first annular inner wall fits within the second annular cavity when the second lid is connected to the base.   
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein
 a ridge extends from a first distal end of the second end of the at least one first sidewall, the ridge defining a first step along an exterior periphery of the first distal end, and   a second distal end of the at least one second sidewall fits within the first step, and the first annular inner wall fits within the second annular cavity, when the second lid is connected to the base.   
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein
 at least one second sidewall extends from second interior surfaces of the first lid, and at least one ridge extends from third interior surfaces of the at least one second sidewall along a portion of a periphery of the second interior surfaces, and   at least one ridge segment extends from the third interior surfaces, the at least one ridge segment being between the at least one ridge.   
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein
 an exterior surface of the first end of the at least one first sidewall defines engaging surfaces along a periphery of the at least one first sidewall, the engaging surfaces being configured to engage and retain the at least one ridge when the first lid is connected to the base, and   at least one recessed area is defined within the engaging surfaces, the at least one ridge segment being configured to fit within a respective one of the at least one recessed area when the first lid is connected to the base.   
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is in a shape of a cylinder, when the first lid and the second lid are connected to the base. 
     
     
         18 . A method of filling a container, comprising:
 filling a primary cavity of the container with at least one consumer product, a floor of a base of the container being in an extended position during the filling, the based including at least one first sidewall, the floor and the base defining the primary cavity, the at least one first sidewall having a first end and a second end;   connecting a first lid to the first end of the at least one first sidewall to close the primary cavity;   actuating the floor of the base to be in a retracted position; and   connecting a second lid to the second end of the at least one first sidewall to close a secondary cavity, the extended position expanding a first volume of the primary cavity and reducing a second volume of the secondary cavity, the retracted position reducing the first volume of the primary cavity and expanding the second volume of the secondary cavity.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 actuating the floor of the base to be in an extended position prior to the filling, and   wherein the actuating of the floor to be in the extended position and the retracted position includes pressing on respective upper and lower major surfaces of a center panel that is concentrically centered within an angled annular panel, the floor including the center panel and the angled annular panel.   
     
     
         20 . A method of making a container, comprising:
 forming a base with at least one first sidewall and a floor that defines a primary cavity, the floor being attached to first interior surfaces of the at least one first sidewall, the at least one first sidewall having a first end and a second end;   connecting a first lid to the first end of the at least one first sidewall of the base to close the primary cavity; and   connecting a second lid to the second end of the at least one first sidewall of the base to close a secondary cavity that is defined in part by the floor,   the floor including an extended position that expands a first volume of the primary cavity and reduces a second volume of the secondary cavity, the floor including a retracted position that reduces the first volume of the primary cavity and expands the second volume of the secondary cavity.