Container With Reconfigurable Features

Abstract

A container for one or more articles, the container including a top end, a closed bottom end, and a sidewall extending from the top end of the container to the bottom end of the container and at least partially around an interior of the container, the sidewall having an upper portion, a central portion, and a lower portion. The central portion of the sidewall includes at least one reconfigurable section having a plurality of reconfigurable features such that the container is reconfigurable between a first configuration, in which a first interior volume of the container is defined between the top end, the sidewall, and the closed bottom end, and a second configuration, in which a second interior volume of the container is defined between the top end, the sidewall, and the closed bottom end, the first interior volume is larger than the second interior volume.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container for one or more articles, the container comprising:
 a top end;   a closed bottom end; and   a sidewall extending from the top end of the container to the bottom end of the container and at least partially around an interior of the container, the sidewall comprising an upper portion, a central portion, and a lower portion,   the central portion of the sidewall comprises at least one reconfigurable section having a plurality of reconfigurable features such that the container is reconfigurable between a first configuration, in which a first interior volume of the container is defined between the top end, the sidewall, and the closed bottom end, and a second configuration, in which a second interior volume of the container is defined between the top end, the sidewall, and the closed bottom end, the first interior volume is larger than the second interior volume.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the reconfigurable features comprise a plurality of curved fold lines extending circumferentially around the sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein each curved fold line of the plurality of curved fold lines is spaced apart from a respective adjacent curved fold line of the plurality of curved fold lines. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of curved fold lines is concentrically arranged about the interior of the container. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the reconfigurable features further comprise a plurality of polygonal weakening features intersecting a respective curved fold line of the plurality of curved fold lines. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein each polygonal weakening feature comprises a plurality of oblique line segments intersecting a respective curved fold line of the plurality of curved fold lines. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein each polygonal weakening feature comprises at least one curved line segment intersecting a respective curved fold line of the plurality of curved fold lines. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of oblique line segments intersects the at least one curved line segment. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein each polygonal weakening feature intersects a respective adjacent polygonal weakening feature. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein each polygonal weakening feature is spaced apart from a respective adjacent polygonal weakening feature. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one reconfigurable section is a first reconfigurable section, and the sidewall further comprises a second reconfigurable section spaced apart from the first reconfigurable section. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the sidewall further comprises an upper rim extending at least partially around an opening in communication with the interior of the container, the upper rim defining the top end of the container. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the closed bottom comprises a bottom panel attached to the sidewall. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein, in the second configuration, at least one portion of the reconfigurable section is positioned overlapping at least one other portion of the reconfigurable section. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein, in the first configuration, a first vertical height is defined from the top end to the closed bottom end, and in the second configuration, a second vertical height is defined from the top end to the closed bottom end, the first vertical height is larger than the second vertical height. 
     
     
         16 . A sidewall blank for forming a sidewall of a container for one or more articles, the sidewall blank comprising:
 an upper marginal portion;   a lower marginal portion; and   a central portion;   the central portion of the sidewall blank comprises at least one reconfigurable section having a plurality of reconfigurable features such that the sidewall formed from the blank is reconfigurable between a first configuration, in which the reconfigurable section has a generally flat and annular arrangement, and a second configuration, in which at least one portion of the reconfigurable section is positioned overlapping at least one other portion of the reconfigurable section.   
     
     
         17 . The sidewall blank of  claim 16 , wherein the reconfigurable features comprise a plurality of curved fold lines for extending circumferentially around the sidewall when the sidewall is formed from the sidewall blank. 
     
     
         18 . The sidewall blank of  claim 17 , wherein each curved fold line of the plurality of curved fold lines is spaced apart from a respective adjacent curved fold line of the plurality of curved fold lines. 
     
     
         19 . The sidewall blank of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of curved fold lines is for being concentrically arranged about an interior of the container formed from the sidewall blank. 
     
     
         20 . The sidewall blank of  claim 18 , wherein the reconfigurable features further comprise a plurality of polygonal weakening features intersecting a respective curved fold line of the plurality of curved fold lines. 
     
     
         21 . The sidewall blank of  claim 20 , wherein each polygonal weakening feature comprises a plurality of oblique line segments intersecting a respective curved fold line of the plurality of curved fold lines. 
     
     
         22 . The sidewall blank of  claim 21 , wherein each polygonal weakening feature comprises at least one curved line segment intersecting a respective curved fold line of the plurality of curved fold lines. 
     
     
         23 . The sidewall blank of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of oblique line segments intersects the at least one curved line segment. 
     
     
         24 . The sidewall blank of  claim 20 , wherein each polygonal weakening feature intersects a respective adjacent polygonal weakening feature. 
     
     
         25 . The sidewall blank of  claim 20 , wherein each polygonal weakening feature is spaced apart from a respective adjacent polygonal weakening feature. 
     
     
         26 . The sidewall blank of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one reconfigurable section is a first reconfigurable section, and the sidewall further comprises a second reconfigurable section spaced apart from the first reconfigurable section. 
     
     
         27 . A method of forming a container for one or more articles, the method comprising:
 obtaining a sidewall blank comprising an upper marginal portion, a lower marginal portion, and a central portion comprising at least one reconfigurable section having a plurality of reconfigurable features;   arranging the top marginal portion of the sidewall blank to form a top end of the container;   attaching the lower marginal portion of the sidewall blank to a bottom forming feature to form a bottom end of the container;   arranging the sidewall blank to form a sidewall extending at least partially around an interior of the container; and   reconfiguring the container between a first configuration, in which a first interior volume of the container is defined between the top end, the sidewall, and the closed bottom end, and a second configuration, in which a second interior volume of the container is defined between the top end, the sidewall, and the closed bottom end, the first interior volume is larger than the second interior volume.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the reconfigurable features comprise a plurality of curved fold lines and arranging the sidewall blank comprises arranging the sidewall blank such that the plurality of curved fold lines extend circumferentially around the sidewall. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein each curved fold line of the plurality of curved fold lines is spaced apart from a respective adjacent curved fold line of the plurality of curved fold lines. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of curved fold lines is concentrically arranged about the interior of the container. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the reconfigurable features further comprise a plurality of polygonal weakening features intersecting a respective curved fold line of the plurality of curved fold lines. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein each polygonal weakening feature comprises a plurality of oblique line segments intersecting a respective curved fold line of the plurality of curved fold lines. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein each polygonal weakening feature comprises at least one curved line segment intersecting a respective curved fold line of the plurality of curved fold lines. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the plurality of oblique line segments intersects the at least one curved line segment. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein each polygonal weakening feature intersects a respective adjacent polygonal weakening feature. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein each polygonal weakening feature is spaced apart from a respective adjacent polygonal weakening feature. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one reconfigurable section is a first reconfigurable section, and the sidewall blank further comprises a second reconfigurable section spaced apart from the first reconfigurable section. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein arranging the top marginal portion of the sidewall blank comprises forming an upper rim, and forming the sidewall comprises positioning the upper rim extending at least partially around an opening in communication with the interior of the container, the upper rim defining the top end of the container. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the bottom forming feature comprises a bottom panel, and forming the closed bottom end of the container comprises attaching the bottom panel to the sidewall. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein, in the second configuration, at least one portion of the reconfigurable section is positioned overlapping at least one other portion of the reconfigurable section. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein, in the first configuration, a first vertical height is defined from the top end to the closed bottom end, and in the second configuration, a second vertical height is defined from the top end to the closed bottom end, the first vertical height is larger than the second vertical height.