Interlocking stackable container storage system

• US 5,699,925 A
• Filed: 05/14/1996
• Issued: 12/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas G. Petruzzi
• Original Assignee: Thomas G. Petruzzi
• Inventors: Petruzzi, Thomas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Castellano, Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US08/649,136
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 220/4.27, 220/4.26, 220/4.21, 220/4.22, 220/4.23, 220/23.6, 220/338, 206/508, 206/509, 206/511, 206/512
• US Class Current: 220/4.27
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0204 and joined together by interconnecting formations forming part of the container, e.g. dove-tail, snap connections, hook elements

Abstract

A portable plastic container has a tapered tongue on a lid top wall arranged for positioning within a tapered groove of a similar container bottom wall for vertically stacking a selected quantity of containers in an interlocking arrangement. Interlocking the containers permits opening of any container without the need foe rearranging and restacking. For interlocking one container to another, the bottom groove of one container is forced into the top tongue of a similar container. A snapping sound is heard as the tongue passes through a slightly smaller groove opening to its seated position within the groove, thus providing seating feedback and assurance to the user that the containers are properly interlocked.

Claims

1. A container operable within a storage system having similar containers interlockable in a vertically stacked configuration, the storage system useful in organizing and storing articles, the container comprising opposing top and bottom walls, wherein an upwardly projecting tongue extends from one of the container walls, the tongue having outwardly diverging side walls terminating in a tongue edge portion, and wherein a cavity within the opposing container wall has opposing side walls converging toward a cavity opening for receiving the tongue of an adjoining similar container therethrough and attaching the tongue within the cavity, the tongue and cavity each formed as an annulus extending proximate peripheral top and bottom wall edge portions, the cavity side walls cooperating with the tongue side walls while the tongue is attached within the cavity, the cavity opening being slightly smaller than the tongue edge portion, the tongue and cavity formed from material sufficiently flexible for permitting the tongue edge portion from the adjoining container to be forced through the cavity opening for positioning the tongue within the cavity, thus coupling the adjoining containers in a vertically stacked and interlocked position.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the tongue extends from the container top wall.

3. A container according to claim 1, wherein the tongue extends from the container bottom wall, the tongue forming a foot for supporting the container when positioned upright upon a supporting surface.

4. A container according to claim 1, wherein the top wall forms a portion of a lid and the bottom wall forms a portion of a hollow body, and wherein the lid is hingedly attached to the body.

5. A container according to claim 1, further comprising seating feedback means for providing a snapping type sound when the tongue edge portion is forced past the cavity opening to a seated position, the feedback means indicating placement of the tongue to its seated position within the cavity, thus providing assurance to the user of the interlocked arrangement between the adjoining containers.

6. A portable container useful with other similar containers for arranging within a stackable interlocked configuration, the container comprising:

a lid having a top wall, the top wall having a tongue integrally formed with and extending upwardly from the top wall, the tongue having outwardly tapering opposing side walls terminating in a flexible tongue edge portion;

a hollow body having a bottom wall, the bottom wall opposing the lid top wall while the container is in a closed position, the bottom wall having a groove for receiving a tongue within the lid of a similar adjoining container, the groove having opposing side walls converging toward a groove opening for receiving the tongue therethrough, the groove opposing side walls generally cooperating with the tongue side walls, in dovetail fashion, while the tongue of the adjoining container is within the groove, the groove opening being slightly smaller than the tongue edge portion, the tongue and groove formed from material sufficiently flexible for permitting the tongue edge portion from the similar container to be forced through the groove opening for seating therein, the tongue and groove each formed as an annulus extending proximate peripheral top and bottom wall edge portions the groove arranged for engaging the tongue of the similar container for interlocking the containers in a vertically stacked arrangement when the containers are in a closed position, and during operation of the containers to their open position; and

hinge means operatively connected between the lid and body, the hinge means hingedly connecting the lid and body when operating the container from a closed position to an open position.

7. A container according to claim 6, wherein the container is formed from a plastic material.

8. A container according to claim 6, wherein the container is dimensioned for holding in a hand of a user.

9. A container according to claim 6, wherein the hinge means comprises a continuous flexible member attached between the lid and body for permitting the lid to rotate from a closed position extending over the body opening to an open position extending away from the body opening permitting access to the hollow body through the opening, wherein at least one open position passes the lid about an arc of at least ninety degrees about a hinge axis of rotation.

10. A container according to claim 6, wherein the hinge means comprises:

a flap affixed to a lid peripheral portion for communicating with a boss extending from the body, the flap having bifurcated flexible projections extending in longation with flap, each projection having a hook shape end portion for securing the flap within a slot; and

a boss extending from a body peripheral portion proximate the body opening, the boss having a slot for loosely receiving the flap, the projections having hook shape end portions extending outwardly for securing the flap within the boss.

11. A container according to claim 6, further comprising:

a clasp extending downwardly from a lid front wall portion, the clasp having means for receiving a tab extending outwardly from the body for securing the lid in the closed position; and

a tab extending outwardly from a body front side wall portion, the tab communicating with the clasp receiving means for preventing rotation of the lid about the hinge, thus holding the lid in the closed position.

12. A container according to claim 6, wherein the lid, body and hinge means are integrally formed from a plastic material.

13. A container according to claim 6, further comprising seating feedback means for providing a snapping type sound when the tongue edge portion is forced past the groove opening to a seated position, the feedback means indicating placement of the tongue to its seated position within the groove, thus providing assurance to the user of the interlocked arrangement between the adjoining containers.

14. A portable storage system comprising vertically stacked interlockable containers, the storage system comprising:

a first container having opposing top and bottom walls, wherein an upwardly projecting tongue extends from one of the container walls, the tongue having outwardly diverging side walls terminating in a tongue edge portion, and wherein a cavity within the opposing container wall is defined by opposing side walls converging toward a cavity opening for receiving the tongue therethrough and attaching the tongue within the cavity, the tongue and cavity each formed as an annulus extending proximate peripheral top and bottom wall edge portions, the cavity side walls generally cooperating with the tongue side walls while the tongue of the first container is attached within the cavity of a second container, the second container similar to the first container, the cavity opening being slightly smaller than the tongue edge portion, the tongue and cavity formed from material sufficiently flexible for permitting the tongue edge portion from the first container to be forced through the cavity opening of the second container; and

a second container similar to the first container, the second container vertically stacked in an adjoining arrangement with the first container, the second container cavity receiving the first container tongue for coupling the first container to the second container in an interlocked, vertically stacked position.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the tongue extends from a bottom wall portion and the cavity is formed within the container top wall for receiving the tongue of an adjoining container, the tongue and cavity positioned for aligning side walls of the adjoining, vertically stacked container when the tongue is seated within the cavity.

16. A system according to claim 14, wherein each container is formed from a flexible plastic material.

17. A system according to claim 14, further comprising:

a lid for each container, the lid having the top wall;

a hollow body for each container, the body having an opening for receiving articles to be stored within the container, the body further having the bottom wall, the bottom wall opposing the lid top wall while the container is in a closed position, wherein the coupling positions the containers in an adjoining, interlocked arrangement during the closed position and during operation of each containers to its open position; and

hinge means for each container, the hinge means operatively connected between the lid and body, the hinge means hingedly connecting the lid and body when operating the container from a closed position to and open position.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the hinge means comprises a continuous flexible member attached between the lid and body for permitting the lid to rotate from a closed position extending over the body opening to an open position extending away from the body opening permitting access to the hollow body through the opening, wherein at least one open lid position rotates the lid about a hinge axis through an arc of at least ninety degrees about the hinge axis.

19. A system according to claim 17, wherein the hinge means comprises:

a flap affixed to a lid peripheral portion for communicating with a boss extending from the body, the flap having bifurcated flexible projections extending in longation with flap, each projection having a hook shape end portion for securing the flap within a slot; and

a boss extending from a body peripheral portion proximate the body opening, the boss having a slot for loosely receiving the flap, the projections having hook shape end portions extending outwardly for securing the flap within the boss.

20. A system according to claim 17, wherein the lid, body and hinge means are integrally formed from a plastic material.

21. A system according to claim 14, wherein a snapping sound is heard by a user when the tongue edge portion is forced past the cavity opening for indicating placement of the tongue to its seated position within the cavity, thus providing verification of the interlocked arrangement between the adjoining containers.

22. A system according to claim 14, wherein at least a portion of each container is formed from transparent material for providing a view of articles stored within the container.