Stackable container apparatus and methods

• US 20060254946A1
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becklin Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Environmental Container Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Becklin, Dennis M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,537,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/508
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0222 the closure and the bottom presenting co-operating peripheral ribs and grooves
• 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

Abstract

Stackable container apparatus and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a container assembly includes a lid portion having a plurality of first raised members projecting outwardly from an upper surface, at least some of the first raised members cooperatively forming a plurality of first receiving areas, and a base portion coupleable to the lid portion and forming a containment space, the base portion having a plurality of second raised members projecting outwardly from a lower surface, at least some of the second raised members cooperatively forming a plurality of second receiving areas, the second receiving areas being adapted to fittingly receive a second plurality of first raised members of a like container assembly positioned below the lower surface, and the first receiving areas being adapted to fittingly receive a second plurality of the second raised members of another like container assembly positioned above the upper surface

Claims

1. A container assembly, comprising:

a lid portion including a plurality of first raised members projecting outwardly from an upper surface, at least some of the first raised members cooperatively forming a plurality of first receiving areas; and

a base portion coupleable to the lid portion and forming a containment space, the base portion including a plurality of second raised members projecting outwardly from a lower surface, at least some of the second raised members cooperatively forming a plurality of second receiving areas, the second receiving areas being adapted to fittingly receive a second plurality of first raised members of a like container assembly positioned below the lower surface, and the first receiving areas being adapted to fittingly receive a second plurality of the second raised members of another like container assembly positioned above the upper surface.

2. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the first raised members include square-shaped raised members, and wherein the second raised members include cross-shaped raised members.

3. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the first receiving areas include plus-shaped receiving areas, and wherein the second receiving areas include square-shaped receiving areas.

4. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the lid portion further comprises a plurality of raised rib members, each raised rib member extending between an adjacent pair of first raised members.

5. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein a first height that the first raised members project outwardly from the upper surface is approximately equal to a second height that the second raised members project outwardly from the lower surface.

6. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the base portion further comprises a plurality of first ridges extending laterally between first pairs of second raised members, and a plurality of second ridges extending longitudinally between second pairs of second raised members.

7. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the base portion and the lid portion further includes a relatively smooth inner surface opposite from a corresponding one of the lower and upper surfaces.

8. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first raised members are disposed in at least two rows on the upper surface, a first centerline of a first row being separated from a second centerline of a second row by a first distance.

9. The container assembly of claim 8, wherein a centerline of an outermost row is separated from an outermost edge of the lid portion by a second distance, the second distance being approximately equal to the first distance.

10. The container assembly of claim 8, wherein an endmost one of the first raised members is separated from an outermost edge of the lid portion by a third distance, the third distance being approximately equal to the first distance.

11. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of second raised members are disposed in at least two rows on the lower surface, a first centerline of a first row being separated from a second centerline of a second row by a first distance.

12. The container assembly of claim 11, wherein a centerline of an outermost row is separated from an outermost edge of the base portion by a second distance, the second distance being approximately equal to the first distance.

13. The container assembly of claim 11, wherein an endmost one of the second raised members is separated from an outermost edge of the base portion by a third distance, the third distance being approximately equal to the first distance.

14. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the base portion includes at least one handle assembly having a support member pivotably coupled to the base portion within a recess formed in the base portion, the support member being moveable between a first position substantially disposed within the recess, and a second position wherein the support member engages against a support surface of the recess such that the support member projects outwardly from the base portion.

15. The container assembly of claim 14, wherein the support member projects outwardly in the second position at an approximately right angle from the base portion.

16. A method for stacking containers, comprising:

providing a first container having a lid portion that includes a plurality of first raised members projecting outwardly from an upper surface, at least some of the first raised members cooperatively forming a plurality of first receiving areas;

providing a second container having a base portion including a plurality of second raised members projecting outwardly from a lower surface, at least some of the second raised members cooperatively forming a plurality of second receiving areas; and

engaging the base portion of the second container with the lid portion of the first container such that at least some of the first raised members are received into a corresponding some of the second receiving areas, and such that at least some of the second raised members are received into a corresponding some of the first receiving areas.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein providing a first container having a lid portion that includes a plurality of first raised members includes providing a first container having a lid portion that includes a plurality of square-shaped raised members, and wherein providing a second container having a base portion that includes a plurality of second raised members includes providing a second container having a base portion that includes a plurality of plus-sign-shaped raised members.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein providing a first container having a lid portion that includes a plurality of first raised members includes providing a first container having a lid portion that includes a plurality of raised rib members, each raised rib member extending between an adjacent pair of first raised members.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein engaging the base portion of the second container with the lid portion of the first container includes contacting the first raised members with the lower surface of the base portion and contacting the second raised members with the upper surface of the lid portion.