FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to containers having flexible bags disposed therein, wherein the flexible bags are vertically adjustable within the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Food and drink products and other perishable items are often packaged in tubular rigid containers that are sealed at both ends. Cylindrical containers such as these are often used to store stacked foodstuffs such as, but not limited to, potato chips, crisps, candies, cookies, wafers, and/or crackers. With these types of containers, it can be difficult to access the food products within the container which are lower in the stack because the cross section of the containers are typically too narrow for an average adult hand to fit inside and there is little space between the side of the stack and the interior wall of the tube to grasp chips for retrieval. Often the container is inverted to pour the food product out, often resulting in spillage and breakage of the food products.

The present invention provides an improvement to the tube-stacked food container that enables the food product within the package to be dispensed in a controlled fashion without tilting the container to pour out the contents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment, the invention is drawn to a container comprising a bottom wall and at least one sidewall connected to the bottom wall which form a container interior. The sidewall terminates in a rolled edge opposite the bottom wall and has an inner and an outer surface. A flexible bag having an open end is disposed within the interior of the container. A slide ring comprises a circumferential portion which is substantially vertical or vertical and a finger extending therefrom and is affixed to the open end of the bag and disposed adjacent the outer surface of the sidewall, below the rolled edge. The finger of the slide ring is angled inwardly toward the sidewall and frictionally engages the sidewall. Vertical adjustment of the slide ring vertically adjusts the bag within the interior of the container.

In an embodiment, the invention is also drawn to a method for manufacturing a container. A slide ring is bonded to an open end of a flexible bag, wherein the slide ring comprises a circumferential portion which is substantially vertical or vertical and a finger extending therefrom. A container body is provided which has a bottom wall and at least one sidewall connected to the bottom wall, the sidewall terminating in a rolled edge opposite the bottom wall, and the sidewall having an inner and an outer surface, wherein the bottom wall and the at least one sidewall form a container interior. The slide ring and flexible bag are applied circumferentially to the outer surface of the sidewall, over the rolled edge, wherein the finger of the slide ring is angled inwardly toward the sidewall and frictionally engages the sidewall. Then, the flexible bag is disposed into the interior of the container, the bag is filled with products, and a top closure is applied to the container.

