Collapsible Elongated Container

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an elongated food container and method of use of same for maintaining the freshness and palatability of an elongated food product. The elongated food container includes a first segment with a base portion having an exterior surface for contacting a substantially flat support surface. The base portion has a length that is at least about 1.15 times longer than the base is wide with a first pair of sidewalls extending upwardly from the base portion, and with a first end wall joining the first pair of sidewalls of the first segment to the first base portion at a closed end of the first segment of the elongated container. The terminal portions of the first planar base portion and second pair of sidewalls of the first segment define a first opening at the open end of the first segment. The open end of the first segment has a predetermined exterior dimension. The elongated food container also includes a second segment having a second base portion for contacting a substantially flat support surface. The second base portion has a length that is at least about 1.15 times longer than the base is wide and a second pair of sidewalls extending upwardly from the second planar base portion. A second end wall joins the second pair of walls of the second segment to the second end wall at the closed end of the second segment of the elongated container. By pushing or pulling apart the first and second segments when telescopically mated, the user can lengthen or shorten the elongated food container to match the length of the food product contained therein as it is consumed over time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An elongated semi-rigid food container for maintaining the freshness and palatability of an elongated food product comprising:
 (1) a first segment including,
 (a) a first substantially planar base portion having an exterior surface for contacting a substantially flat support surface, the base portion having a length that is at least about 1.15 times longer than the base is wide; 
 (b) a first pair of sidewalls extending upwardly from the substantially planar base portion; and 
 (c) a first end wall joining the first pair of sidewalls of the first segment to the first substantially planar base portion at a closed end of the first segment of the elongated container, the terminal portions of the first substantially planar base portion and second pair of sidewalls of the first segment defining a first opening at the open end of the first segment, the open end of the first segment having a predetermined exterior dimension; and, 
   (2) a second segment including,
 (d) a second substantially planar base portion for contacting a substantially flat support surface, the second base portion having a length that is at least about 1.15 times longer than the base is wide; 
 (e) a second pair of sidewalls extending upwardly from the second substantially planar base portion; and 
 (f) a second end wall joining the second pair of walls of the second segment to the second end wall at the closed end of the second segment of the elongated container, the terminal portions of the second substantially planar base portion and second pair of sidewalls of the second segment defining a second opening at the open end of the second segment and the internal dimension of the open end of the second segment formed by the second pair of sidewalls and second base wall has an interior dimension that is slightly larger than the exterior dimension of the open end of the first segment such that the first segment and second segment can be telescopically mated at their respective open ends to enclose an elongated food product. 
   
     
     
         2 . The elongated semi-rigid, food container for maintaining the freshness and palatability of an elongated food product of  claim 3  wherein the first segment and second segment are telescopically mated at their respective open ends to enclose an elongated food product. 
     
     
         3 . The elongated semi-rigid, food container for maintaining the freshness and palatability of an elongated food product of  claim 2  wherein substantially the entire length of the second segment formed by the second pair of sidewalls and second base wall has an interior dimension that is slightly larger than the exterior dimension of substantially the entire length of the first segment whereby the telescopically mated first and second segments can be drawn together to bring their respective closed ends closer in order to shorten the container and exclude excess air form the interior of the elongated container. 
     
     
         4 . The elongated semi-rigid, food container for maintaining the freshness and palatability of an elongated food product of  claim 2  wherein to match the length of the food product contained therein after portion of the food product are consumed. 
     
     
         5 . The elongated semi-rigid, food container for maintaining the freshness and palatability of an elongated food product of  claim 2  wherein each of the sidewalls and substantially planar base portions of the open ends of the first and second segments of the elongated container each includes angled surfaces on their respective terminal ends to facilitate telescopic mating of the first and second container segments. 
     
     
         6 . The elongated semi-rigid, food container for maintaining the freshness and palatability of an elongated food product of  claim 2  wherein the materials selected for forming the first and second segments are semi-rigid having sufficient resiliency to deflect slightly outwardly in the case of the first segment and slightly inwardly in the case of the second segment upon telescopic mating of the first and second segments. 
     
     
         7 . The elongated semi-rigid, food container for maintaining the freshness and palatability of an elongated food product of  claim 2  wherein the materials selected for forming the first and second segments are a semi-rigid plastic resin which is substantially transparent so that the user can view the elongated food product through the sidewalls of the elongated container. 
     
     
         8 . The elongated semi-rigid food, container for maintaining the freshness and palatability of an elongated food product of  claim 2  wherein the internal surface adjacent to the second opening of the second segment has an annular rib for creating a friction fit seal with the inner surface of the first segment to allows for great dimensional variance between the two segments of the elongated containers of the invention upon telescopic mating. 
     
     
         9 . The elongated semi-rigid, food container for maintaining the freshness and palatability of an elongated food product of  claim 1  wherein the first pair of sidewalls are substantially planar and extend substantially perpendicularly upwardly from the substantially planar base portion, the second pair of sidewalls are substantially planar and extend substantially perpendicularly upwardly from the second substantially planar base portion, and the first pair of side walls and second set of sidewall are joined by a substantially planar top wall such that the elongated container has a substantially rectangular cross section. 
     
     
         10 . An elongated food container for maintaining the freshness and palatability of an elongated food product comprising:
 (1) a first segment having
 (a) a first cylindrical sleeve portion having a length that is at least about 1.15 times longer than the diameter of the sleeve portion; 
 (b) a first end wall defining a first closed end of the first segment of the elongated container, the first cylindrical sleeve extending from the first closed end and terminating in an open end, the open end of the first segment having a predetermined exterior diameter, and 
   (2) a second segment having
 (c) a second cylindrical sleeve portion having a length that is at least about 1.15 times longer than the diameter of the sleeve portion; and 
 (d) a second end wall defining a first closed end of the second segment of the elongated container, the second cylindrical sleeve portion terminating in an open end, the open end of the second segment having an internal diameter that is slightly larger than the exterior dimension of the open end of the first segment such that the first segment and second segment can be telescopically mated at their respective open ends to enclose an elongated food product. 
   
     
     
         11 . A method of maintaining the freshness and palatability of an elongated food product utilizing an elongated food container having a first segment with a first sleeve portion having a closed end and a first open end with a predetermined exterior diameter and a second segment with a second sleeve portion with a closed end and a second open end having an internal dimension that is slightly larger than the exterior dimension of the first open end of the first segment such that the first segment and second segment can be telescopically mated at the first open end and the second open end to enclose an elongated food product, the method comprising the steps of:
 selecting an elongated food container that is longer than the elongated food product to be stored therein;   placing one end of the elongated food product in one of the first segment and the second segment of the elongated food container;   telescopically mating the first segment and the second segment such that the elongated food product is contained within the interior the spaced defined by the telescopically mated first segment and second segment;   moving a closed end of one of the first segment and the second segment toward the other closed end of one of the first segment and second segment until the length of the elongated food product is substantially matched by the length of the elongated container thereby excluding excess air from the elongated container to preserve the freshness of the elongated food product during storage.   
     
     
         12 . The method of maintaining the freshness and palatability of an elongated food product utilizing an elongated food container of  claim 11  further comprising the step of matching the cross-sectional shape of the elongated food container to the cross-sectional shape of the elongated food product in order to further minimize the volume of air within the telescopically mated first segment and second segment. 
     
     
         13 . The method of maintaining the freshness and palatability of an elongated food product utilizing an elongated food container of  claim 11  further comprising the steps of uncoupling the telescopically mated first segment and second segment of the elongated food container, cutting the elongated food product to a shorter length, placing the shortened elongated food product in one of the first segment and the second segment of the elongated food container, telescopically mating the first segment to the second segment such that the shortened elongated food product is contained within the interior spaced defined by the mated first segment and second segment, moving a closed end of one of the first segment and the second segment toward the other closed end of one of the first segment and second segment until the length of the shortened elongated food product is substantially matched by the length of the elongated container thereby excluding excess air from the elongated container to preserve the freshness of the shortened elongated food product during storage.