Container

• US 6,250,490 B1
• Filed: 09/21/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: C G Paxton Limited
• Original Assignee: Mckechnie Limited (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Loftus, Stephen Clive
• Primary Examiner(s): POLLARD, STEVEN M
• Application Number:
  US09/399,043
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 220/1.5, 220/23.4, 220/23.6
• US Class Current: 220/23.4
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/02 Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together stackable containers of polygonal cross-section formed by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/001
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/00 Tamper-indicating means

Abstract

Containers which can support like containers to form a stack each includes formations which interengage to allow a security tag to be introduced, to lock the containers against unauthorized separation. This makes a stack sufficiently secure and sufficiently heavy as to be unattractive to a pilferer.

Claims

1. A container system for delivery of goods to retail premises, comprising a plurality of containers which are manually liftable when containing the said goods, there being means associated with the containers for connecting together at least two containers while containing the said goods, to prevent unauthorized separation thereof and to form a group of containers which, when containing the said goods, is not readily manually lifted, each container comprising formations which mate with respective corresponding formations of another like container when connected therewith, each container further comprising apertures or recesses which are remote from the mating formations and come into alignment when containers are connected, to allow security means to be introduced through aligned apertures or recesses of connected containers, to engage both containers, the mating formations serving, when mated, to prevent connected containers moving apart from one another, and the security means serving, when engaged, to prevent the mating formations being de-mated by relative movement of the connected containers.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the containers are formed to protect their contents from external access while forming part of a group of containers, thereby protecting the contents against pilfering or tampering.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the containers comprise substantially continuous external surfaces.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein the containers are lidded.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least one container is formed to support a like container to create a group in the form of a stack.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the formations provide mechanical engagement.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the formations comprise hook means and a hookable portion.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the hookable portion is formed in the base region of the container, the hook means being formed to be at or near the top of the container when the container is in condition for stacking.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein the hook means is formed on a lid member of the container.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the apertures and/or recesses are formed in the base region of the container and at or near the top of the container.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the apertures is formed in a movable member having a first position in which the aperture will come into alignment as aforesaid when containers are formed into a group, and a second, stowed position in which the aperture is not available for alignment as aforesaid.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the movable member is hingedly or slidably attached to the container.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein the containers are generally rectangular, having side walls extending up from a base.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein the containers further comprise lid means.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the lids are attached to the containers.

16. A system according to claim 14, wherein the lid means comprise lid portions individually hinged to the containers and able to be brought together to close the mouth of the container.

17. A system according to claim 14, wherein the lid means provide a surface on which a second container may be stacked.

18. A system according to claim 1, wherein a group of containers as aforesaid is too heavy to be readily liftable.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein a group may weigh in excess of 25 kgs.

20. A container for use in delivering goods to retail premises, the container being manually liftable when containing the said goods, and being adapted to be connected together with at least one other container to form a group of containers, the group of containers being not readily manually liftable when containing goods, and there being securing means associated with the container for securing the container against unauthorized separation from the group, the securing means comprising matable formations arranged to locate with respective corresponding formations of another like container when connected therewith, and comprising at least one aperture or recess remote from the matable formations and positioned to come into alignment with a corresponding aperture or recess in another container to which the container is connected, to allow security means to be introduced through the aligned apertures or recesses to engage both containers, the matable formations serving, when mated, to prevent connected containers moving apart from one another, and the security means serving, when engaged, to prevent the matable formations being de-mated by relative movement of the connected containers.

21. A container according to claim 20, wherein the container is formed to protect its contents from external access while forming part of a group of containers, thereby protecting the contents from pilfering or tampering.

22. A container according to claim 21, wherein the container comprises substantially continuous external surfaces.

23. A container according to claim 20, wherein the container is lidded.

24. A container according to claim 20, wherein the container may support a like container to form a stack.

25. A container according to claim 20 and comprising formations so located as to mate with respective corresponding formations of another like container with which the container forms a group.

26. A container according to claim 25, wherein the formations provide mechanical engagement.

27. A container according to claim 25, comprising hook means and a hookable portion.

28. A container according to claim 27, wherein the hookable portion is formed in the base region of the container, the hook means being formed to be at or near the top of the container when the container is in condition for stacking.

29. A container according to claim 27, wherein the hook means are formed on a lid member of the container.

30. A container according to claim 20, wherein the apertures and/or recesses are formed in the base region of the container and at or near the top of the container.

31. A container according to claim 20, wherein at least one of the apertures is formed in a movable member having a first position in which the aperture will come into alignment as aforesaid when containers are formed into a group, and a second, stowed position in which the aperture is not available for alignment as aforesaid.

32. A container according to claim 28, wherein the movable member is hingedly or slidably attached to the container.

33. A container according to claim 20, and comprising complementary formations which mate along one edge of grouped containers, the apertures being so located that when security means have been introduced as aforesaid, the mating formations are prevented from disengaging.

34. A container according to claim 20, wherein the container is generally rectangular, having side walls extending up from a base.

35. A container according to claim 20, and comprising lid means.

36. A container according to claim 35, wherein the lid means are attached to the container.

37. A container according to claim 35, wherein the lid means comprise lid portions individually hinged to the containers to be brought together to close the mouth of the container.

38. A container according to claim 35, wherein the lid means provide a surface on which a second container may be stacked.

39. An interlocking container assembly formed of stackable containers, comprising:

(a) a first container having a base, a plurality of side walls formed with said base, and a top;

(b) first and second recesses formed in respective opposing side walls of said first container adjacent said base, said first and second recesses defining respective first and second bottom interior flanges;

(c) a second container stacked beneath said first container, and having a base, a plurality of side walls formed with said base, and a top;

(d) a locking hook attached to the top of said second container and received within the first recess of said first container adjacent said first interior flange;

(e) an aperture formed in the top of said second container a spaced-apart distance from said hook and aligned with a corresponding aperture formed in the second interior flange of said first container; and

(f) a locking security tag inserted through said aligned apertures formed in the top of said second container and the second interior flange of said first container, and cooperating with the hook of said second container and the first interior flange of said first container to hold said first and second containers together in the stacked condition, whereby said containers are secured against unauthorized separation from the assembly and are not readily manually lifted.