Container insert for lifting contents

Abstract

A container insert for elevating liftable contents includes a shaft. A base is attached to the bottom end of the shaft. A movable platform is slidingly disposed on the shaft. The platform is configured to support liftable contents in the container and to slide from the bottom end of the shaft towards the top end of the shaft and stopping at one of a plurality of discrete points along the length of the shaft without retreating towards the bottom end. The shaft includes a plurality of engagement details (e.g., indentations) defining the plurality of discrete points. In an embodiment, latches are operably coupled to the platform and configured to pivot from an engaged position to a released position under the influence of weight and or buoyancy as the insert is inverted and returned to an upright position. The latches which engage the engagement details in the engaged position prevent the platform from retreating towards the bottom end when the latch is in the engaged position. In another embodiment the container insert includes a shaft with engagement projections, such as a plurality of resilient fingers defining the plurality of discrete points. Each finger is configured to pivot from an angled engagement position to a bent release position with the finger urged against the shaft, and the fingers are configured to prevent the platform from retreating towards the bottom end when the latch is in the engaged position. A central opening of the platform is configured to urge the engaged finger against the shaft and allow the urged finger to pass through the central opening when the insert is inverted due to weight of the platform.

1 . A container insert for a container that contains liftable contents and has a first height, an open top and a bottom, said insert comprising
 a shaft having a length less than the height, a bottom end and a top end;   a base attached to the bottom end of the shaft;   a movable platform slidingly disposed on said shaft, said platform being configured to support liftable contents in the container and being further configured to slide from the bottom end of the shaft towards the top end of the shaft and stopping at one of a plurality of discrete points along the length of the shaft without retreating towards the bottom end.   
   
   
       2 . A container insert according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes a plurality of indentations defining said plurality of discrete points. 
   
   
       3 . A container insert according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one latch operably coupled to said platform, configured to pivot from an engaged position to a released position, and configured to prevent the platform from retreating towards the bottom end when the latch is in the engaged position. 
   
   
       4 . A container insert according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes a plurality of engagement indentations defining said plurality of discrete points, and the insert further comprises at least one latch operably coupled to said platform, configured to pivot from an engaged position in which each latch engages an indentation to a released position in which each latch releases an indentation, and configured to prevent the platform from retreating towards the bottom end when the latch is in the engaged position. 
   
   
       5 . A container insert according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes a plurality of engagement indentations defining said plurality of discrete points, and the insert further comprises at least one latch operably coupled to said platform, configured to pivot from an engaged position in which each latch engages an indentation when the insert is upright to a released position in which each latch releases an indentation when the insert is inverted, and configured to prevent the platform from retreating towards the bottom end when the latch is in the engaged position, and configured to allow the platform to advance towards the open top when the insert is inverted. 
   
   
       6 . A container insert according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes a plurality of engagement indentations defining said plurality of discrete points, and the insert further comprises at least one latch operably coupled to said platform, weighted to pivot from an engaged position in which each latch engages an indentation when the insert is upright to a released position in which each latch releases an indentation when the insert is inverted, and configured to prevent the platform from retreating towards the bottom end when the latch is in the engaged position, and configured to allow the platform to advance towards the open top when the insert is inverted. 
   
   
       7 . A container insert according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes a plurality of engagement indentations defining said plurality of discrete points, and the insert further comprises at least one latch operably coupled to said platform, weighted to pivot from an engaged position in which each latch engages an indentation when the insert is upright to a released position in which each latch releases an indentation when the insert is inverted, and configured to prevent the platform from retreating towards the bottom end when the latch is in the engaged position, and configured to allow the platform to advance towards the open top when the insert is inverted, said platform being weighted to facilitate advancement. 
   
   
       8 . A container insert according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes a plurality of engagement details defining said plurality of discrete points, and the insert further comprises at least one latch operably coupled to said platform, each latch having a buoyant element configured to float in liquid and cause the latch to pivot from an engaged position in which each latch engages a detail when the insert is upright to a released position in which each latch releases a detail when the insert is inverted, and configured to prevent the platform from retreating towards the bottom end when the latch is in the engaged position, and configured to allow the platform to advance towards the open top when the insert is inverted. 
   
   
       9 . A container insert according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes a plurality of engagement details defining said plurality of discrete points, the platform is perforated with perforations that do not allow passage of the liftable contents, and the insert further comprises at least one latch operably coupled to said platform, each latch having a buoyant element configured to float in liquid and cause the latch to pivot from an engaged position in which each latch engages a detail when the insert is upright to a released position in which each latch releases a detail when the insert is inverted, and configured to prevent the platform from retreating towards the bottom end when the latch is in the engaged position, and configured to allow the platform to advance towards the open top when the insert is inverted. 
   
   
       10 . A container insert according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes a plurality of engagement details defining said plurality of discrete points, the platform is perforated with perforations that do not allow passage of the liftable contents, a concentric collar is attached to the platform, and the insert further comprises at least one latch operably coupled to said platform, each latch having a buoyant element configured to float in liquid and cause the latch to pivot from an engaged position in which each latch engages a detail when the insert is upright to a released position in which each latch releases a detail when the insert is inverted, and configured to prevent the platform from retreating towards the bottom end when the latch is in the engaged position, and configured to allow the platform to advance towards the open top when the insert is inverted. 
   
   
       11 . A container insert according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is at least partially filled with liquid and the shaft includes a plurality of engagement indentations defining said plurality of discrete points, and the insert further comprises at least one latch operably coupled to said platform, each latch having a buoyant element configured to float in liquid and cause the latch to pivot from an engaged position in which each latch engages an indentation when the insert is upright to a released position in which each latch releases an indentation when the insert is inverted, and configured to prevent the platform from retreating towards the bottom end when the latch is in the engaged position, and configured to allow the platform to advance towards the open top when the insert is inverted. 
   
   
       12 . A container insert according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is at least partially filled with liquid and the shaft includes a plurality of engagement indentations defining said plurality of discrete points, and the insert further comprises at least one latch operably coupled to said platform, each latch having a buoyant element configured to float in liquid and cause the latch to pivot from an engaged position in which each latch engages an indentation when the insert is upright to a released position in which each latch releases an indentation when the insert is inverted, and configured to prevent the platform from retreating towards the bottom end when the latch is in the engaged position, and configured to allow the platform to advance towards the open top when the insert is inverted. 
   
   
       13 . A container insert according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is at least partially filled with liquid, the platform is perforated with perforations that do not allow passage of the liftable contents, and the shaft includes a plurality of engagement indentations defining said plurality of discrete points, and the insert further comprises at least one latch operably coupled to said platform, each latch having a buoyant element configured to float in liquid and cause the latch to pivot from an engaged position in which each latch engages an indentation when the insert is upright to a released position in which each latch releases an indentation when the insert is inverted, and configured to prevent the platform from retreating towards the bottom end when the latch is in the engaged position, and configured to allow the platform to advance towards the open top when the insert is inverted. 
   
   
       14 . A container insert according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is at least partially filled with liquid, the platform is perforated with perforations that do not allow passage of the liftable contents, a concentric collar is attached to the platform, and the shaft includes a plurality of engagement indentations defining said plurality of discrete points, and the insert further comprises at least one latch operably coupled to said collar, each latch having a buoyant element configured to float in liquid and cause the latch to pivot from an engaged position in which each latch engages an indentation when the insert is upright to a released position in which each latch releases an indentation when the insert is inverted, and configured to prevent the platform from retreating towards the bottom end when the latch is in the engaged position, and configured to allow the platform to advance towards the open top when the insert is inverted. 
   
   
       15 . A container insert for a container that contains liftable contents and has a first height, an open top and a bottom, said insert comprising
 a shaft having a length less than the height, a bottom end and a top end, and a plurality of engagement projections;   a base attached to the bottom end of the shaft;   a movable platform with a central opening slidingly disposed on said shaft, said platform being configured support liftable contents in the container and being further configured to slide from the bottom end of the shaft towards the top end of the shaft and stopping at one of a plurality of discrete points along the length of the shaft without retreating towards the bottom end.   
   
   
       16 . A container insert according to  claim 15 , wherein the engagement projections comprise a plurality of resilient fingers defining said plurality of discrete points. 
   
   
       17 . A container insert according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement projections comprise a plurality of resilient fingers defining said plurality of discrete points, and each finger is configured to pivot from an angled engagement position to a bent release position with the finger urged against the shaft, and said fingers are configured to prevent the platform from retreating towards the bottom end when the latch is in the engaged position. 
   
   
       18 . A container insert according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement projections comprise a plurality of resilient fingers defining said plurality of discrete points, and each finger is configured to pivot from an angled engagement position to a bent release position with the finger urged against the shaft, and said fingers are configured to prevent the platform from retreating towards the bottom end when the latch is in the engaged position, and the central opening of the platform is configured to urge the engaged finger against the shaft and allow the urged finger to pass through the central opening when the insert is inverted. 
   
   
       19 . A container insert according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement projections comprise a plurality of resilient fingers defining said plurality of discrete points, and each finger is configured to pivot from an angled engagement position to a bent release position with the finger urged against the shaft, and said fingers are configured to prevent the platform from retreating towards the bottom end when the latch is in the engaged position, and the central opening of the platform is configured to urge the engaged finger against the shaft and allow the urged finger to pass through the central opening when the insert is inverted due to weight of the platform. 
   
   
       20 . A container insert according to  claim 1 , wherein the platform is perforated with perforations that do not allow passage of the liftable contents, the engagement projections comprise a plurality of resilient fingers defining said plurality of discrete points, and each finger is configured to pivot from an angled engagement position to a bent release position with the finger urged against the shaft, and said fingers are configured to prevent the platform from retreating towards the bottom end when the latch is in the engaged position, and the central opening of the platform is configured to urge the engaged finger against the shaft and allow the urged finger to pass through the central opening when the insert is inverted due to weight of the platform. 
   
   
       21 . A container insert according to  claim 1 , further comprising a means for pulling the movable platform from the bottom end of the shaft towards the top end of the shaft, said means for pulling including an elongate pulling shaft extending upwardly through an aperture in the movable platform and having a distal end configured to prevent the distal end from passing through the aperture.