# US 2012/0074174 A1 · Container with Elevating Inner Wall > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0074174 A1 - Document ID: US20120074174A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/217,923 - Filed: 2011-08-25 - Published: 2012-03-29 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-25 - Assignees: WiSys Technology Foundation, Inc. - Inventors: Birgit Leisen Pollack; Michael Andrew Ludka; Allison Amanda Popple - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120074174A1 ## CPC - B65D 83/76: for dispensing fluent contents by means of a piston - B65D 83/764: the piston cooperating with a screw-thread in the side wall of the container - B65D 83/766: the piston being actuated by a spring-like mechanism - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A container, for example for a food product or the like, provides an elevating lower inner surface that may sealably support a contained food product to raise the upper surface of the food product as it is consumed. Importantly, the container avoids an extension of the elevating mechanism into the product itself, reducing problems of contamination and leakage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A container comprising: a base surrounded by substantially rigid upstanding outer sidewalls terminating at an upper lip for receiving a lid, the base movably held within the sidewalls to move upward therein; and inner collapsible sidewalls having an upper end elevationally fixed with respect to the upper lip and a lower end elevationally movable with the base. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The container of claim 1 wherein the inner collapsible sidewalls comprise a set of telescoping rings. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The container of claim 1 further including a set of inter-engaging thread elements having a first portion attached to the base so that relative rotation of the inter-engaging thread elements causes upward movement of the base. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The container of claim 3 wherein a second portion of the inter-engaging thread elements is a helical groove attached to an inner wall of the upstanding outer sidewalls so that rotation of the base causes it to climb upward within the outer sidewalls. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The container of claim 3 further including a knob rotatable about a vertical axis and communicating with the base to rotate the base with rotation of the knob. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The container of claim 5 wherein the knob provides an outer base to the container. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The container of claim 5 wherein the knob further includes upwardly extending pins positioned between the upstanding outer sidewalls and the inner collapsible sidewalls to be received within channels in the base to cause rotation of the base while permitting separation of the base and knob with rotation of the knob. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The container of claim 3 wherein the thread elements comprise a helical groove and a tooth fitting within the helical groove. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The container of claim 1 wherein further including a lid releasably attaching to the upper lip to sealingly hold contents within the inner collapsible sidewall. ### Claim 10 A method of dispensing a non-rigid product from a container, the container being of a type having a base surrounded by substantially rigid upstanding outer sidewalls terminating at an upper lip for receiving a lid, the base movably held within the sidewalls to move upward therein and further having inner collapsible sidewalls having an upper edge elevationally fixed with respect to the upper lip and a lower edge elevationally movable with the base, the method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning the base at a lower most position within the outer sidewalls; (b) filling the inner sidewalls with the substantially non-rigid material; and (c) repeating the steps of removing the product from an upper portion of the container, and elevating the base to raise a level of the product within a container. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein the inner collapsible sidewalls comprise a set of telescoping rings. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 further including a set of inter-engaging thread elements having a first portion attached to the base so that relative rotation of the inter-engaging thread elements causes upward movement of the base. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein a second portion of the inter-engaging thread elements is a helical groove attached to an inner wall of the upstanding outer sidewalls so that rotation of the base causes it to climb upward within the outer sidewalls. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 further including a knob rotatable about a vertical axis and communicating with the base to rotate the base with rotation of the knob. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the knob provides an outer base to the container. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the knob further includes upwardly extending pins positioned between the upstanding outer sidewalls and the inner collapsible sidewalls to be received within channels in the base to cause rotation of the base while permitting separation of the base and knob with rotation of the knob. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein the thread elements comprise a helical groove and a tooth fitting within the helical groove. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein further including a lid releasably attaching to the upper lip to sealingly hold contents within the inner collapsible sidewall.