Stackable container system

• US 10,165,877 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2016
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Runway Blue, LLC (Sundesa LLC)
• Original Assignee: Runway Blue, LLC (Sundesa LLC)
• Inventors: Sorensen, Steven M., Sorensen, Kim L., Meyers, David O.
• Primary Examiner(s): GRANO, ERNESTO ARTURIO
• Application Number:
  US15/149,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20160249755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 969 Days
• Field of Search: 215329
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2205 Drinking glasses or vessels A47G19/23 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2272 from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/23 of stackable type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/022 the bottom presenting projecting peripheral elements receiving or surrounding the closure or peripheral elements projecting therefrom B65D21/0222 and B65D21/0223 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0228 Containers joined together by screw-, bayonet-, snap-fit or the like, B65D21/0211, B65D21/0231 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/04 Partitions
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/04 Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/065 with hinged, foldable or pivotable spouts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3205 Separate rigid or semi-rigid containers joined to each other at their external surfaces B65D81/3288 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/0421 Controlled or regulated

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a stackable container system. The stackable container system can comprise a beverage container, a beverage container lid, a plurality of smaller containers, and a plurality of smaller container lids. The smaller containers and smaller container lids are configured to allow any of the smaller container lids to be used on any of the smaller containers. The bottom of the beverage container and the bottom of each smaller container is also configured to allow the beverage container or smaller container to be interlocked with the top of any of the smaller container lids. In addition to storing beverage ingredients, the stackable container system can also be used to store other edible and inedible ingredients.

Claims

1. A stackable container system comprising:

a beverage container comprising;

a beverage container body;

a beverage container lid connecting portion disposed at least proximate an upper portion of the beverage container body, the beverage container lid connecting portion comprising a threaded connecting portion disposed on an outer surface of the upper portion of the beverage container body;

an annular flange extending downwardly from a lower portion of the beverage container body; and

a smaller container lid connecting portion disposed on an interior wall of the annular flange, the smaller container lid connecting portion comprising a male portion of a bayonet mount including an inwardly extending flange from the annular flange and an engaging portion;

a beverage container lid selectively connected to the beverage container lid connecting portion of the beverage container, the beverage container lid comprising an opening and a closure, the closure sized and configured to selectively close the opening in the lid, the beverage container lid including a threaded connecting portion disposed on an inner surface of an annular wall;

at least one smaller container sized and configured to be selectively connected to the beverage container, each smaller container comprising;

a smaller container body; and

a threaded connecting portion disposed at least proximate an upper portion of the smaller container body, the threaded connecting portion disposed on an outer surface of the upper portion of the smaller container body; and

at least one smaller container lid sized and configured to be selectively connected to the threaded connecting portion of the smaller container and the smaller container lid connecting portion of the beverage container, each smaller container lid comprising;

a first connecting structure on a first side of the smaller container lid, the first connecting structure comprising a threaded connecting portion on an inner surface of a downwardly extending flange that is selectively connected to the threaded connecting portion of the smaller container;

a second connecting structure on a second side of the smaller container lid, the second connecting structure comprising a female portion of a bayonet mount, the female portion of the bayonet mount comprising;

an upwardly extending portion having a perimeter located horizontally inward of a perimeter of the downwardly extending flange of the first connecting structure on the first side of the smaller container lid;

at least one outwardly extending flange disposed on an outer wall of the upwardly extending portion, an upper surface of the outwardly extending flange generally aligned with an upper surface of the upwardly extending portion of the second connecting structure; and

an upwardly extending receiving portion disposed in a lower portion of the outwardly extending flange, the upwardly extending receiving portion sized and configured to receive the engaging portion of the smaller container lid connecting portion when the smaller container lid is connected to the smaller container lid connecting portion of the beverage container; and

a central portion disposed between and separating the first connecting structure and the second connecting structure of the smaller container lid, the first connecting structure and the second connecting structure comprising different types of connecting structures;

wherein the outwardly extending flange of the second connecting structure of the smaller container lid at least partially abuts the inwardly extending flange of the smaller container lid connecting portion of the beverage container when the smaller container lid is connected to the beverage container;

wherein the second connecting structure of the smaller container lid is at least partially disposed in the smaller container lid connecting portion of the beverage container when the smaller container lid is connected to the beverage container; and

wherein the threaded connecting portion of the smaller container is at least partially disposed in the first connecting structure of the smaller container lid when the smaller container is connected to the smaller container lid.

2. The stackable container system as in claim 1, wherein the threaded connecting portion of the beverage container lid connecting portion of the beverage container has a larger diameter than the threaded connecting portion of the smaller container.

3. The stackable container system as in claim 1, wherein a diameter of the lower portion of the beverage container body and a diameter of the smaller container body are at least generally equal.

4. The stackable container system as in claim 1, wherein the beverage container body has a tapered configuration with a larger upper diameter and a smaller lower diameter, the lower diameter of the beverage container body at least generally equal to a diameter of the smaller container body.

5. The stackable container system as in claim 1, wherein the bayonet mount allows the smaller container lid to be selectively attached to the beverage container;

wherein the beverage container lid is selectively connected to the beverage container by a first threaded connection;

wherein the smaller container lid is selectively connected to the smaller container by a second threaded connection;

wherein the first threaded connection and the second threaded connection are not compatible.

6. The stackable container system as in claim 1, wherein the first connecting structure on the first side of the smaller container lid has an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the second connecting structure on the second side of the smaller container lid.

7. The stackable container system as in claim 1, further comprising a wall disposed at an end of the outwardly extending flange of the second connecting structure of the smaller container lid, the wall outwardly extending from the outer wall of the upwardly extending portion of the second connecting structure of the smaller container lid.

8. The stackable container system as in claim 1, further comprising a divider selectively connected to a lower surface of the smaller container lid.

9. The stackable container system as in claim 1, further comprising an annular flange extending downwardly from a lower portion of the smaller container body of the smaller container;

and

a smaller container lid connecting portion disposed on an interior wall of the annular flange extending downwardly from the smaller container body, the smaller container lid connecting portion comprising a male portion of a bayonet mount including an inwardly extending flange from the annular flange and an engaging portion.

10. The stackable container system as in claim 1, wherein a smaller container lid can be interchangeably connected to a smaller container and the smaller container lid connecting portion of the beverage container.

11. A stackable container system comprising:

a beverage container comprising;

a beverage container body;

a threaded connecting portion disposed at least proximate an upper portion of the beverage container body;

an annular flange extending downwardly from a lower portion of the beverage container body; and

a smaller container lid connecting portion disposed on an interior portion of the annular flange of the beverage container body, the smaller container lid connecting portion comprising a male portion of a bayonet mount including an inwardly extending flange and an engaging portion;

a beverage container lid selectively attached to the threaded connecting portion of the beverage container, the beverage container lid comprising an opening in an upper portion of the lid and a closure, the closure sized and configured to selectively close the opening in the lid;

one or more smaller containers sized and configured to be selectively connected to the beverage container, each smaller container of the one or more smaller containers comprising;

a smaller container body; and

a threaded connecting portion disposed at least proximate an upper portion of the smaller container body;

one or more smaller container lids sized and configured to be selectively attached to the threaded connecting portion of the smaller containers, each smaller container lid of the one or more smaller container lids comprising;

a first connecting structure on a first side of the smaller container lid, the first connecting structure comprising a threaded connecting portion sized and configured to selectively connect the smaller container lid to the smaller container;

a second connecting structure on a second side of the smaller container lid, the second side of the smaller container lid located above the first side of the smaller container lid, the second connecting structure comprising a female portion of a bayonet mount sized and configured to connect the smaller container lid to the beverage container, the first connecting structure being a different type of connecting structure than the second connecting structure, the first connecting structure being disposed lower than the second connecting structure, the second connecting structure comprising;

an upwardly extending portion;

at least one outwardly extending flange disposed on an outer wall of the upwardly extending portion; and

an upwardly extending receiving portion disposed in a lower portion of the outwardly extending flange; and

a ring-shaped central portion disposed between the first connecting structure and the second connecting structure;

wherein the engaging portion of the smaller container lid connecting portion is complementary to the receiving portion in the lower portion of the outwardly extending flange of the second connecting structure of the smaller container lid;

wherein the outwardly extending flange of the second connecting structure of the smaller container lid at least partially abuts the inwardly extending flange of the smaller container lid connecting portion of the beverage container when the smaller container lid is connected to the beverage container;

wherein the second connecting structure of the smaller container lid is at least partially disposed in the smaller container lid connecting portion of the beverage container when the smaller container lid is connected to the beverage container; and

wherein the threaded connecting portion of the smaller container is at least partially disposed in the first connecting structure of the smaller container lid when the smaller container is connected to the smaller container lid.

12. The stackable container system as in claim 11, wherein the ring-shaped central portion of the smaller container lid vertically separates the first connecting structure and the second connecting structure, the first connecting structure comprising a downwardly extending annular flange with the threaded connecting portion disposed on an inner surface of the annual flange.

13. The stackable container system as in claim 12, wherein an outer diameter of the second connecting structure is smaller than an inner diameter of the first connecting structure.

14. The stackable container system as in claim 12, wherein an outer diameter of the second connecting structure is smaller than an outer diameter of the first connecting structure.

15. The stackable container system as in claim 12, wherein the annular flange of the first connecting structure is generally perpendicularly disposed to an upper surface of the ring-shaped central portion of the smaller container lid and the upwardly extending portion of the second connecting structure is generally perpendicularly disposed to the upper surface of the ring-shaped central portion of the smaller container lid.

16. The stackable container system as in claim 11, wherein the bayonet mount allows the smaller container lid to be selectively attached to the beverage container;

wherein the beverage container lid is selectively connected to the beverage container by a first threaded connection;

wherein the smaller container lid is selectively connected to the smaller container by a second threaded connection;

wherein the first threaded connection and the second threaded connection are not compatible.

17. The stackable container system as in claim 11, further comprising a wall disposed at an end of the outwardly extending flange of the second connecting structure of the smaller container lid, the wall outwardly extending from the outer wall of the upwardly extending portion of the second connecting structure.

18. The stackable container system as in claim 11, wherein the lower portion of the beverage container and the one or more small container lids have substantially the same outer diameter.

19. The stackable container system as in claim 11, further comprising a divider selectively connected to the smaller container lid.

20. The stackable container as in claim 11, wherein the beverage container body has a tapered configuration with a larger upper diameter and a smaller lower diameter, the lower diameter of the beverage container body at least generally equal to a diameter of the smaller container body.

21. A system comprising:

a beverage container lid comprising;

an opening;

a closure pivotably coupled to the lid, the closure capable of moving between an open position and a closed position; and

a downwardly extending wall, at least one thread of a threaded connector disposed on an inner surface of the downwardly extending wall;

a beverage container comprising;

an upper portion including at least one thread of a threaded connector disposed on an outer surface of the upper portion of the beverage container, the threaded connector of the upper portion of the beverage container sized and configured to be connected to the threaded connector of the beverage container lid; and

a lower portion including a downwardly extending wall, at least one internal bayonet mount portion disposed on an inner surface of the downwardly extending wall, the internal bayonet mount portion including an inwardly extending flange and an engaging portion disposed on the inner surface of the downwardly extending wall;

a smaller container lid comprising;

an upper portion including at least one external bayonet mount portion sized and configured to be connected to the internal bayonet mount portion of the beverage container, the external bayonet mount portion including an outwardly extending flange with an upper surface generally aligned with an upper surface of the upper portion of the smaller container lid; and

a lower portion including a downwardly extending wall, at least one thread of a threaded connector disposed on an inner surface of the downwardly extending wall, the lower portion of the smaller container lid vertically disposed lower than the upper portion of the smaller container lid, and a perimeter of the lower portion of the smaller container lid being located horizontally outside a perimeter of the upper portion of the smaller container lid; and

a smaller container comprising;

a body; and

an upper portion of the body including at least one thread of a threaded connector disposed on an outer surface of the upper portion of the smaller container, the threaded connector of the upper portion of the smaller container sized and configured to be connected to the threaded connector of the smaller container lid.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the threaded connector of the beverage container lid is not compatible with the threaded connector of the upper portion of the smaller container;

and

wherein the threaded connector of the lower portion of the smaller container lid is not compatible with the threaded connector of the upper portion of the beverage container.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the lower internal bayonet mount portion of the beverage container comprises a male portion of a bayonet mount;

wherein the external bayonet mount portion of the smaller container lid comprises a female portion of the bayonet mount; and

wherein an upper portion of the engaging portion of the male portion of the bayonet mount is disposed in a receiving portion in a lower surface of the outwardly extending flange of the female portion of the bayonet mount when the smaller container lid is connected to the beverage container.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the external bayonet mount portion of the smaller container lid further comprises a receiving portion generally centrally disposed in a lower surface of the outwardly extending flange.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the external bayonet mount portion of the smaller container lid further comprises a receiving portion generally centrally disposed in a lower surface of the outwardly extending flange, the receiving portion upwardly extending from the lower surface of the outwardly extending flange.

26. The system of claim 21, further comprising an end wall disposed at least proximate an end of the outwardly extending flange of the upper portion of the smaller container lid, the end wall and the flange extending outwardly from an outer surface of a circular wall of the upper portion of the smaller container lid.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the outwardly extending flange of the upper portion of the smaller container lid has a thickness that increases along a length of the flange.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the outwardly extending flange of the external bayonet mount portion of the smaller container lid and the upper surface of the upper portion of the smaller container lid are generally coplanar.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein an upper portion of the engaging portion of the internal portion of the bayonet mount is sized and configured to be disposed in the receiving portion of the external bayonet mount portion of the smaller container lid when the smaller container lid and the beverage container are connected;

wherein an upper surface of the engaging portion is disposed a larger distance from a bottom surface of the beverage container than an upper surface of the inwardly extending flange; and

wherein an upper surface of the engaging portion not aligned with an upper surface of the inwardly extending flange.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein the lower portion of the smaller container includes a downwardly extending wall, at least one internal bayonet mount portion disposed on an inner surface of the downwardly extending wall, the internal bayonet mount portion including an inwardly extending flange and an engaging portion disposed on the inner surface of the downwardly extending wall.