Expandable Container

Abstract

A container system includes a body having a first end and a second end. The first end has an opening formed therethrough. The body defines a plurality of ribs between the first end and the second end that are configured to actuate between a compressed state and an expanded state to vary a volume inside the body. A dissolvable concentrated material is disposed within the body. When a predetermined amount of water is introduced into the body after the plurality of ribs are actuated into the expanded state, the dissolvable concentrated material dissolves in the water to produce a mixture having a predetermined concentration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container system, comprising:
 a body having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end has an opening formed therethrough, and wherein the body defines a plurality of ribs between the first end and the second end that are configured to actuate between a compressed state and an expanded state to vary a volume inside the body; and   a dissolvable concentrated material disposed within the body;   wherein, when a predetermined amount of water is introduced into the body after the plurality of ribs are actuated into the expanded state, the dissolvable concentrated material dissolves in the water to produce a mixture having a predetermined concentration.   
     
     
         2 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ribs form from about 10% to about 50% of a height of the body when the plurality of ribs are in the compressed state, and the plurality of ribs form from about 50% to about 90% of the height of the body when the plurality of ribs are in the expanded state. 
     
     
         3 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a neck that is recessed such that an upper end of the neck does not extend beyond the first end of the body. 
     
     
         4 . The container system of  claim 1 , further comprising a water-soluble material having the dissolvable concentrated material encapsulated therein. 
     
     
         5 . The container system of  claim 4 , wherein the dissolvable concentrated material is in powder form or gel. 
     
     
         6 . A container system, comprising:
 a first body having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end has a first opening formed therethrough, and wherein the first body defines a plurality of ribs between the first end and the second end that are configured to actuate between a compressed state and an expanded state to vary a first volume inside the first body; and   a second body that has a second volume and that is configured to be coupled to the first body, or is integral with the first body, the second body having a concentrated material disposed therein;   wherein, when a predetermined amount of water and a predetermined amount of the concentrated material are introduced into the first volume after the plurality of ribs are actuated into the expanded state, the concentrated material dissolves in the water to produce a mixture having a predetermined concentration.   
     
     
         7 . The container system of  claim 6 , wherein an additional predetermined amount of water and an additional predetermined amount of the concentrated material are configured to be introduced into the first volume to refill the mixture. 
     
     
         8 . The container system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first body comprises a neck having the first opening formed therethrough;   the second body comprises a packet having a tab with a second opening formed therethrough; and   the neck extends through the second opening to couple the first body and the second body together.   
     
     
         9 . The container system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 an exterior surface of the first body comprises a first engagement feature; and   an exterior surface of the second body comprises a second engagement feature that is configured to engage with the first engagement feature to couple the first body and the second body together.   
     
     
         10 . The container system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first engagement feature is positioned on one side of the first body and above the plurality of ribs;   the second body comprises a second opening formed therethrough; and   wherein the second opening in the second body allows the concentrated material to be poured from the second body into the first opening in the first body after the first and second engagement features disengage from one another.   
     
     
         11 . The container system of  claim 6 , wherein the first body is integral with the second body, and wherein a transfer path extends from the second body into the first body. 
     
     
         12 . The container system of  claim 11 , wherein the second body is positioned on one side of the first body and above the plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         13 . The container system of  claim 11 , further comprising a valve or frangible seal in the transfer path that allows flow from the second body into the first body but prevents flow from the first body into the second body. 
     
     
         14 . The container system of  claim 11 , wherein the concentrated material flows through the transfer path and into the first body in response to a user squeezing the second body. 
     
     
         15 . The container system of  claim 14 , wherein the second body comprises at least one actuation member that is configured to be squeezed to cause the concentrated material to flow through the transfer path and into the first body. 
     
     
         16 . The container system of  claim 6 , further comprising a set of instructions for using the container system, the set of instructions instructing a user to:
 actuate one or more of the plurality of ribs defined by the first body from the compressed state into the expanded state to increase the first volume inside the first body;   introduce the predetermined amount of the concentrated material into the first body; and   introduce the predetermined amount of water into the first body after the one or more of the ribs is actuated into the expanded state.   
     
     
         17 . The container system of  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined amount of the concentrated material is disposed in or part of a capsule or pouch that is positioned inside the first body before the one or more ribs are actuated into the expanded state. 
     
     
         18 . The container system of  claim 16 , wherein the set of instructions instructs the user to introduce the predetermined amount of the concentrated material into the first body after the one or more ribs are actuated into the expanded state. 
     
     
         19 . The container system of  claim 16 , wherein the set of instructions instructs the user to:
 remove a cap from a neck of the first body; and   remove the second body from the neck after the cap is removed from the neck, wherein introducing the predetermined amount of the concentrated material into the first body comprises transferring the predetermined amount of concentrated material from the second body to the first body after the second body is removed from the neck.   
     
     
         20 . The container system of  claim 16 , wherein the set of instructions instructs the user to decouple the second body from the first body, wherein introducing the predetermined amount of the concentrated material into the first body comprises transferring the predetermined amount of the concentrated material from the second body to the first body after the second body is decoupled from the first body.