Compressible cylindrical container with integrated screw, compression nut and bellow system

Abstract

The invention is a container with a sealing lid and a compression nut and is composed of compressible cylindrical walls. The container volume can be adjusted to equal the volume of content minimizing content contact with air. The container can be further pressurized for preservation of contents that need pressurization. The container walls are created in the form of helical collapsible screw thread bellows. The integration of a compression nut, a screw and a collapsible bellow arrangement enables the container to be compressed precisely, effortlessly, easily while retaining structural rigidity, stability and providing a non-slip gripping surface. By adjusting the pitch of the screw threads a variety of mechanical advantage ratios can be achieved thus the effort for compressing the container can be optimized. The compression nut is detachable and transferable from one container to another enabling it's cost to be shared between multiple containers.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An adjustable-volume storage container comprising: 
 a) a tubular enclosure including 
 a first, sealed end,  
 a second end including an opening for allowing access to the enclosure, and  
 a cylindrical side wall extending between the first and second ends, the cylindrical side wall having a longitudinal axis,  
 an annular bead projecting radially outwardly from the cylindrical side wall, and  
 a plurality of helically arranged pleats formed in the side wall between the bead and one of the ends, the pleats functioning together to simultaneously form a spiral bellows and  
 threads of a screw, the bellows being biased to a fully extended position and being collapsible along the longitudinal axis in response to an axial compressive force; and  
   b) a compression member for progressively collapsing the tube and holding the tube in a succession of increasingly collapsed positions.    
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the compression member comprises an annular element having a first end configured to capture the annular bead and a second end including a thread configured to engage the threads formed by the pleats.  
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the bellows have a variable height ranging from a maximum when fully extended to a minimum when fully collapsed; and    the annular element includes a side wall extending between the first end and the second end, the first and second ends and the sidewall together defining a hollow enclosure having a length equal to the minimum height of the bellows.    
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 1 , further comprising sealing means for sealing the opening in the second end of the container.  
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein one end of the container is configured as a seat for supporting the container in an upright position.  
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular bead is hollow and forms a single annular bellow.  
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 1  when sealed capable of increasing the pressure within the container by operating the compression member.  
     
     
         8 . A screw mechanism comprising, in combination: 
 a) a compressible screw including 
 a tube having a cylindrical side wall defining a longitudinal axis;  
   an annular bead projecting radially outwardly from the cylindrical side wall;    a plurality of hollow threads formed in the side wall longitudinally proximal to the bead, the threads forming a spiral bellows, the bellows being biased to a fully extended position and being collapsible along the longitudinal axis in response to an axial compressive force; and    b) a compression member for progressively collapsing the tube and holding the tube in a succession of increasingly collapsed positions.    
     
     
         9 . The screw mechanism according to  claim 8 , wherein the compression member comprises a hollow nut having a first end configured to capture the annular bead and a second end including a thread configured to engage the threads of the screw.  
     
     
         10 . The screw mechanism according to  claim 9 , wherein: 
 a) the threads of the screw have a predetermined pitch;    b) the first end of the nut defines a plane extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the tube and parallel to the annular bead; and    c) the second end of the nut defines a plane extending at an angle determined by the pitch of the threads of the screw.    
     
     
         11 . The screw mechanism according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the bellows have a variable height ranging from a maximum when fully extended to a minimum when fully collapsed; and    the nut includes a side wall extending between the first end and the second end, the side having a length equal to the minimum height of the bellows.    
     
     
         12 . The screw mechanism according to  claim 8 , wherein the compression member includes a pair of semi-cylindrical elements mounted for pivoting movement about a hinge axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the screw.  
     
     
         13 . The screw mechanism according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 a) the semi-cylindrical elements are mounted for movement from an open position wherein the compression member is freely movable with respect to the screw, to a closed position wherein the compression member closely encircles the screw and is movable only in the axial direction with respect to the screw; and    b) the elements include a latch for locking the elements in the closed position.    
     
     
         14 . The screw mechanism according to  claim 8 , wherein the annular bead is hollow and forms a single annular bellow.