Nesting container and nesting container assembly

• US 10,442,568 B1
• Filed: 12/04/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matthew A. Summers
• Original Assignee: Matthew A. Summers
• Inventors: Summers, Matthew A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walters, John D
• Application Number:
  US15/831,073
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 280 33991, 280 33998
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/006 being vertically stackable with each other
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/20 involving parts being collapsible, attachable, detachable or convertible
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2207/02 rigidly
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0013 Protection covers, e.g. against rain
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/42 Reinforcing or strengthening parts or members
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0201 stackable or joined together side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0202 and loosely interengaged by integral complementary shapes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0215 Containers with stacking feet or corner elements B65D21/0211, B65D21/023 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0223 the closure and the bottom presenting local co-operating elements, e.g. projections and recesses B65D21/0222 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2205/00 Venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/20 External fittings of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/44
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/24 for spacing bases of containers from supporting surfaces, e.g. legs for pallets B65D19/40
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/28 Handles of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/46; of bottles or jars B65D23/10 ; holders for glasses, bottles, cartons, plastic bags, cans A47G23/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/2841 Horizontal, e.g. U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/0012 having straight sides, e.g. with curved corners
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00296 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00972 Collars or rings
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/02 Removable lids or covers with means for piercing, cutting, or tearing a frangible inner closure B65D51/22
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/163 the container and the lid being made separately B65D43/161 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 45/20 pivoted
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/02 : Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure B65D41/32 takes precedence; protective covers for bottles B65D23/08; protective cap-like outer covers for bottle or jar closures B65D41/62; pressure-applying means B65D45/00; closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal of closures B65D50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/10 : Locking pins destructible locking pins B65D55/06
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3818 : formed with double walls, i.e. hollow
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3823 : formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls

Abstract

An interlocking or mating container and container system are presented herein. In particular, the system includes a plurality of adjacently disposed (side-by-side, end-to-end and stacked) containers that are dimensioned to maximize the available space on a pallet or in a shipping unit. The containers are configured to include a plurality of interlocking or mating portions such as one or more side flanges, teeth or projections, a handle engaging portion or channel, one or more wheel assembly receiving portions, or one or more foot receiving portions. The Interlocking or mating portions are configured to matingly engage or abut corresponding portions of an adjacent container and at least partially restrict movement there between.

Claims

1. A container, comprising:

a base and a lid, said base comprising a bottom portion, two oppositely disposed sides, and two oppositely disposed ends,

said lid positionable between an at least partially covering and at least partially open relation to said base,

said base comprising a lip extending at least partially along an upper edge of each of said two oppositely disposed sides,

said base comprising a plurality of flanges extending outwardly from each of said two oppositely disposed sides, said plurality of flanges defining at least one recess there between,

wherein said plurality of flanges disposed on at least one of said two oppositely disposed sides are configured to be disposed at least partially within recesses of an adjacently disposed container comprising a similar construction, and

wherein when said plurality of flanges are disposed at least partially within the recesses of the adjacently disposed container, movement of said container relative to the adjacently disposed container is at least partially restricted in at least one direction.

2. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of flanges comprises positive outwardly extending members.

3. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of flanges and said at least one recess of said base are disposed on said lip.

4. The container as recited in claim 3 wherein said lid comprises a plurality of flanges and a plurality of corresponding recesses disposed thereon.

5. The container as recited in claim 4 wherein at least some of said plurality of flanges of said lid are configured to be disposed at least partially within recesses on a lid of an adjacently disposed container comprising a similar construction.

6. The container as recited in claim 5 wherein said flanges of said lid are aligned with said flanges of said base when said lid is positioned in said covering relation to said base.

7. The container as recited in claim 6 wherein said flanges of said lid are vertically aligned with said flanges of said base when said lid is positioned in said covering relation to said base.

8. The container as recited in claim 7 wherein said recesses of said lid are vertically aligned with said recesses of said base when said lid is positioned in said covering relation to said base.

9. The container as recited in claim 8 further comprising a handle connected to at least one of said two oppositely disposed ends of said container.

10. The container as recited in claim 9 wherein said handle comprises an elongated configuration with two elongated arms and a connecting end.

11. The container as recited in claim 10 wherein said lid comprises a channel on a top surface thereof configured to receive at least a portion of a handle of a different container disposed in an end-to-end relation to said container, wherein said container and the different container comprises a similar construction.

12. The container as recited in claim 11 wherein, when said handle is disposed at least partially within the channel of the different container disposed in the end-to-end relation, movement of said container is restriction in at least one direction relative to the different container.

13. The container as recited in claim 12 wherein said channel on said lid comprises two elongated arm channels and a connecting end channel.

14. A container adapted to be disposed in a mating relation with second container disposed in a side-to-side relation and a third container disposed in an end-to-end relation, the second container and the third container comprising the same construction as said container, said container comprising:

a base and a lid, said base comprising a bottom portion, two oppositely disposed sides, and two oppositely disposed ends,

said lid positionable between a closed position and an at least partially open position relation to said base,

a plurality of flanges disposed on an outside surface of said container, said plurality of flanges defining at least one recess, wherein said plurality of flanges are configured to be disposed at least partially within recesses of the second container,

wherein, when at least some of said plurality of flanges are disposed at least partially within the recesses of the second container, movement of said container relative to the second container is at least partially restricted in at least one direction,

a handle pivotally connected to said container, said handle comprising two elongated arms and a connecting end, and

said lid comprising a channel on a top surface thereof, said channel being configured to receive at least a portion of a handle of the third container, wherein, when the handle of the third container is disposed at least partially within said channel, movement of said container is restricted in at least one direction relative to the third container.

15. The container as recited in claim 14 wherein at least some of said plurality of flanges are disposed on said base, and at least some of said plurality of flanges are disposed on said lid.

16. The container as recited in claim 15 wherein said flanges disposed on said lid are aligned with said flanges on said base when said lid is disposed in said closed position.

17. A container, comprising:

a base and a lid, said base comprising a bottom portion, two oppositely disposed sides, and two oppositely disposed ends,

said lid positionable between an at least partially covering and at least partially open relation to said base,

a handle assembly movably relative to said base, said handle assembly comprising two elongated arms and a connecting end, and

said lid comprising a channel on a top surface thereof, said channel being configured to receive at least a portion of a handle of another container disposed in an end-to-end position relative to said container,

said channel comprising two elongated portions and a connecting end portion, wherein said two elongated portions of said channel on said lid are each configured to receive a different elongated arm of the handle of the end-to-end container, and wherein said connecting end portion of said channel is configured to receive a connecting end of the handle of the end-to-end container, and

wherein, when the handle of the end-to-end container is disposed at least partially within said channel, movement of said container is restricted in at least one direction relative to the end-to-end container.

18. The container as recited in claim 17 further comprising a plurality of flanges extending outwardly from each of said two oppositely disposed sides, said plurality of flanges defining at least one recess there between.

19. The container as recited in claim 18 wherein said plurality of flanges disposed on at least one of said two oppositely disposed sides are configured to be disposed at least partially within recesses of an adjacently disposed container comprising a similar construction, and wherein when said plurality of flanges are disposed at least partially within the recesses of the adjacently disposed container, movement of said container relative to the adjacently disposed container is at least partially restricted in at least one direction.