Expanding food storage container

Abstract

An expanding food storage container includes a base and a cover. The cover includes a support ring and a dome having a side wall closely received in the support ring. The support ring includes spaced tabs extending toward the side wall of the dome. The outer face of the dome sidewall includes a plurality of camming threads and support threads extending outward along helical paths. There is a pair of threads for each tab, with the threads spaced peripherally to closely receive the associated tab therebetween. Rotation of the dome with respect to the support ring causes the threads to ride up or down the tabs, raising or lowering the dome with respect to the support ring. The upper and lower ends of the threads include a horizontal slot which closely receives the associated tab. The tab includes a depression near its end which receives a lock button extending outward from the dome sidewall within the slot. The lock button may be selectively received within the depression to selectively secure the dome in the expanded or collapsed position.

1 . An expanding food storage container, comprising:
 a base and a cover, said cover being formed of a dome and a ring wall.   
     
     
         2 . An expanding food storage container as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a series of support threads is provided between said dome and said ring wall.   
     
     
         3 . An expanding food storage container as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a series of support threads is provided on said dome; and   a tab is provided on said cover; and   said tab is spaced and located to engage said series of support threads; and   said tab and said series of threads are located so that rotation of said dome relative to said ring wall causes said series of threads to rotate relative to said tab and cause said dome to move longitudinally upward or downward with respect to said ring wall.   
     
     
         4 . An expanding food storage container as in  claim 3 , wherein:
 a resting land is provided to prevent continued upward or downward movement of said dome with respect to said ring.   
     
     
         5 . An expanding food storage container as in  claim 3 , wherein:
 a resting upper land is provided to prevent continued upward or downward movement of said dome with respect to said ring; and   a resting lower land is provided to prevent continued upward or downward movement of said dome with respect to said ring.   
     
     
         6 . An expanding food storage container as in  claim 3 , wherein:
 a resting lower land is provided to prevent continued upward or downward movement of said dome with respect to said ring.   
     
     
         7 . An expanding food storage container as in  claim 6 , wherein:
 a lock button is formed on the dome, and continued rotation of said dome relative to said ring wall causes said tab to ride over said lock button and due to elastic deformation serve to selectively hold said dome against unintended rotation.   
     
     
         8 . An expanding food storage container as in  claim 5 , wherein:
 a lock button is formed on the dome, and continued rotation of said dome relative to said ring wall causes said tab to ride over said lock button and due to elastic deformation serve to selectively hold said dome against unintended rotation.   
     
     
         9 . An expanding food storage container as in  claim 4 , wherein:
 a lock button is formed on the dome, and continued rotation of said dome relative to said ring wall causes said tab to ride over said lock button and due to elastic deformation serve to selectively hold said dome against unintended rotation.