Stackable Flexible Container Assembly
First Claim
1. A stackable container assembly, comprising:
- a main body;
an upstanding rim portion having an upper surface; and
a flexible bottom portion, said flexible bottom portion having a lower surface comprising at least one support surface for supporting said container assembly on a horizontal surface, said lower surface further comprising at least one projection that is disposed radially inwardly from said support surface, and wherein said flexible bottom portion is configured so that said projection will flex downwardly into a position that is adjacent to an upstanding rim portion of an underlying container assembly when said container assembly is stacked on top of another container assembly.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A stackable container assembly that is particularly suited for packaging heavy bulk products such as paint includes a container having a main body and a removable lid having an upstanding rim portion that has an upper surface. The container has a flexible bottom portion that has a lower surface that includes at least one support surface for supporting the container assembly on an underlying horizontal surface. The lower surface further includes at least one projection that is disposed radially inwardly from the support surface. The flexible bottom portion is advantageously configured so that the projection will flex radially downwardly and outwardly into a position that is adjacent to an upstanding rim portion of an underlying container assembly when the container assembly is stacked on top of another container assembly. This ensures accurate registration and positioning of the container assemblies during stacking.
35 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A stackable container assembly, comprising:
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a main body; an upstanding rim portion having an upper surface; and a flexible bottom portion, said flexible bottom portion having a lower surface comprising at least one support surface for supporting said container assembly on a horizontal surface, said lower surface further comprising at least one projection that is disposed radially inwardly from said support surface, and wherein said flexible bottom portion is configured so that said projection will flex downwardly into a position that is adjacent to an upstanding rim portion of an underlying container assembly when said container assembly is stacked on top of another container assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12)
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11. A stackable container assembly according to claim 11, wherein said removable lid portion comprises a flexible diaphragm that is constructed and arranged to accommodate relative pressure changes between an interior of said container assembly and ambient conditions by flexing, whereby flexure of the rest of the container assembly as a result of such relative pressure changes is minimized.
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13. A stackable container assembly, comprising:
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a main body; an upstanding rim portion having an upper surface; and a flexible bottom portion, said flexible bottom portion having a lower surface comprising at least one support surface for supporting said container assembly on a horizontal surface, said lower surface further comprising at least one projection that is disposed radially inwardly from said support surface, and wherein said flexible bottom portion is configured so that said projection will flex radially outwardly into a position that is adjacent to an upstanding rim portion of an underlying container assembly when said container assembly is stacked on top of another container assembly. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A stackable container assembly, comprising:
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a main body; a removable lid portion, said removable lid portion comprising an upstanding rim portion having an upper surface, said removable lid portion further comprising a flexible diaphragm that is constructed and arranged to accommodate relative pressure changes between an interior of said container assembly and ambient conditions by flexing, whereby flexure of the rest of the container assembly as a result of such relative pressure changes is minimized; and a flexible bottom portion, said flexible bottom portion having a lower surface comprising at least one support surface for supporting said container assembly on a horizontal surface, said lower surface further comprising at least one projection that is disposed radially inwardly from said support surface, and wherein said flexible bottom portion is configured so that said projection will flex into a position that is adjacent to an upstanding rim portion of an underlying container assembly when said container assembly is stacked on top of another container assembly.
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Specification