INTERLOCKING STACKING CONTAINER
A container configured to stack and interlock with similar adjacent containers. The container includes a body defining a material receiving chamber, a dispenser opening, and a movable coupler.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/255,936, filed Oct. 29, 2009, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a container that is configured to stack and also interlock with other containers so that it is self supporting and will reduce or eliminate the need for secondary packaging. The container illustratively may be comprised of a body that is configured to hold a volume of material, a cover or lid, and a movable coupler that is configured to serve as an interlocking member with other containers.
The device of the present disclosure illustratively acts not only as a container, but is also configured to palletize in a manner where little or no additional packing is needed. More particularly, each container is configured to stack and interlock with other containers positioned above and adjacent to it, thus reducing or eliminating the need for additional materials such as slip sheets, trays and corrugated cartons. Because of its shape, the container will also allow for improved utilization of a pallet area thus increasing the volume of product that will fit onto a pallet.
The movable coupler may alternatively function as an interlocking member and a carrying device for the container. It can also act as a member to ease the act of pouring product from the container. Illustratively, the container includes four side walls defining a square cross-section, each side wall having a substantially flat and large surface area, thereby providing room for product descriptive labeling.
An additional method of interlocking may be accomplished by building an interlocking member into the body of the container itself. Because most commercial containers are made from flexible plastic, the mechanical interlock could be made strong enough to keep the containers interlocked but also flexible enough so a consumer could separate them.
According to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a container includes a body having a base, a top wall, and at least one side wall defining a material receiving chamber. A dispenser opening is formed in the body and is in communication with the material receiving chamber. A coupler is supported by the body for movement relative thereto. A retaining boss defining a receiving channel is formed in the body. The coupler is configured to be received within the receiving channel of a second container such that the coupler of the container cooperates with the retaining boss of the second container to restrain relative movement of the second container.
According to another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a container includes a body having a base, a top wall, and at least one side wall defining a material receiving chamber. A dispenser opening is formed in the body and is in communication with the material receiving chamber. A bail is pivotably coupled to the body between an upwardly extending carrying mode of operation and a horizontally extending coupling mode of operation. A retaining boss defining a receiving channel is formed in the bail. The bail is configured to be received within the receiving channel of a second container when the bail is in the coupling mode of operation.
According to a further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a stacking container system includes a first container including a base, a top wall, a side wall coupled between the base and the top wall, and a first coupler configured to extend laterally outwardly relative to the top wall. A second container including a base, a top wall, a side wall coupled between the base and the top wall, and a first coupler configured to extend laterally outwardly relative to the top wall, the side wall of the first container being juxtaposed with the side wall of the second container. A third container includes a base, a top wall, a side wall coupled between the base and the top wall, and a first coupler configured to extend laterally outwardly relative to the top wall, the top wall of the first container being juxtaposed with the base of the third container. A fourth container including a base, a top wall, a side wall coupled between the base and the top wall, and a first coupler configured to extend laterally outwardly relative to the top wall, the top wall of the second container being juxtaposed with the base of the fourth container, the side wall of the third container being juxtaposed with the side wall of the fourth container, and the first coupler of the first container coupled to the base of the fourth container.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
The detailed description of the drawings particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
The embodiments of the invention described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to precise forms disclosed. Rather, the embodiments selected for description have been chosen to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention.
Referring initially to
In the illustrative embodiment of
A dispenser opening 28 is formed within the body 12 and is in communication with the material receiving chamber 14 (
With reference to
A coupler 44 is illustratively supported by the body 12 for pivoting movement relative thereto. More particularly, the coupler 44 may comprise a bail 46, such as a strap formed into a partial loop, having opposing ends pivotably coupled at pivot points 50a, 50b above the top wall 18. As further detailed herein, the coupler 44 has a carrying or use mode of operation where the bail 46 extends substantially vertically or upwardly from the top wall 18, and a coupling or rest mode of operation where the bail 46 extends substantially horizontal or parallel to the top wall 18.
The coupler 44 may be formed of any material having sufficient strength to support the weight of material in the container 10 during the carrying mode and to provide a sufficient container interlock during the coupling mode, and of sufficient flexibility to facilitate release of the container interlock by a user. Illustratively, the bail 46 may be formed of a conventional polymer and/or elastomeric material.
With reference to
In the stacked arrangement of containers 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d shown in
The coupler 44 of first container 10a is positioned in an interlocking position (i.e. coupling mode) by nesting in receiving channel 42 of fourth container 10d, where it couples adjacent containers 10a and 10d. Similarly, second coupler defined by dispenser wall 30 and cover 36 of first container 10a is positioned in an interlocking position by nesting in recess 56 of third container 10c, where it couples adjacent containers 10a and 10c. As shown in
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the spirit and scope of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.
Claims
1. A container comprising:
- a body including a base, a top wall, and at least one sidewall defining a material receiving chamber;
- a dispenser opening formed in the body and in communication with the material receiving chamber;
- a coupler supported by the body for movement relative thereto;
- a retaining boss defining a receiving channel in the body; and
- wherein the coupler is configured to be received within the receiving channel of a second container such that the coupler of the container cooperates with the retaining boss of the second container to restrain relative movement of the second container.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the dispenser opening is defined by a dispenser wall extending upwardly from the top wall of the body, and a cover is releasably coupled to the dispenser wall.
3. The container of claim 2, wherein the dispenser wall is cylindrical and includes a plurality of external threads, and the cover includes a lid having a plurality of internal threads engaging the external threads of the dispenser wall.
4. The container of claim 2, wherein:
- the base includes a recess; and
- the dispenser wall and the cover are configured to be received within the recess of the base of a third container supported by the top wall of the container.
5. The container of claim 1, wherein the at least one sidewall includes a first pair of parallel sidewalls and a second pair of parallel sidewalls thereby defining a rectangular cross-section.
6. The container of claim 5, wherein the first pair of sidewalls and the second pair of sidewalls are of substantially equal length thereby defining a square cross-section.
7. The container of claim 1, wherein the coupler comprises a bail pivotably supported by the body.
8. The container of claim 7, wherein the bail includes a first end pivotably coupled to the top wall proximate a first side of the dispenser opening and a second end pivotably coupled to the top wall proximate an opposing second side of the dispenser opening, the bail defining a handle when in a carrying mode of operation and the bail restraining movement of the second container in a plane parallel to the top wall of the container when in a coupling mode of operation.
9. A container comprising:
- a body including a base, a top wall, and at least one sidewall defining a material receiving chamber;
- a dispenser opening formed in the body and in communication with the material receiving chamber;
- a bail pivotably coupled to the body between a upwardly extending carrying mode of operation and a horizontally extending coupling mode of operation;
- a retaining boss defining a receiving channel in the body; and
- wherein the bail is configured to be received within the receiving channel of a second container when the bail is in the coupling mode of operation.
10. The container of claim 9, wherein the bail in the coupling mode of operation cooperates with the retaining boss of the second container to restrain movement of the second container in a plane parallel to the top wall of the container.
11. The container of claim 9, wherein the dispenser opening is defined by a dispenser wall extending upwardly from the top wall of the body.
12. The container of claim 11, further comprising a cover releasably coupled to the dispenser wall.
13. The container of claim 12, wherein the dispenser wall is cylindrical and includes a plurality of external threads, and the cover includes a lid having a plurality of internal threads engaging the external threads of the dispenser wall.
14. The container of claim 12, wherein:
- the base includes a recess; and
- the dispenser wall and the cover are configured to be received within the recess of a third container supported by the top wall of the container.
15. The container of claim 9, wherein the at least one sidewall includes a first pair of parallel sidewalls and a second pair of parallel sidewalls thereby defining a rectangular cross-section.
16. The container of claim 9, wherein the bail includes a first end pivotably coupled to the top wall proximate a first side of the dispenser opening and a second end pivotably coupled to the top wall proximate an opposing second side of the dispenser opening, the bail defining a handle when in a carrying mode of operation.
17. A stacking container system comprising:
- a first container including a base, a top wall, a sidewall coupled between the base and the top wall, and a first coupler configured to extend laterally outwardly relative to the top wall;
- a second container including a base, a top wall, a sidewall coupled between the base and the top wall, and a first coupler configured to extend laterally outwardly relative to the top wall, the sidewall of the first container being juxtaposed with the sidewall of the second container;
- a third container including a base, a top wall, a sidewall coupled between the base and the top wall, and a first coupler configured to extend laterally outwardly relative to the top wall, the top wall of the first container being juxtaposed with the base of the third container; and
- a fourth container including a base, a top wall, a sidewall coupled between the base and the top wall, and a first coupler configured to extend laterally outwardly relative to the top wall, the top wall of the second container being juxtaposed with the base of the fourth container, the sidewall of the third container being juxtaposed with the sidewall of the fourth container, and the first coupler of the first container coupled to the base of the fourth container.
18. The stacking container system of claim 17, wherein the first container further comprises a second coupler, the second coupler of the first container coupled to the base of the third container.
19. The stacking container system of claim 18, wherein the first coupler of the first container comprises a bail supported for pivoting movement relative to the top wall, and the second coupler of the first container comprises a dispenser wall surrounding a dispenser opening and extending upwardly from the top wall.
20. The stacking container system of claim 18, wherein the first coupler of the first container comprises a bail supported for pivoting movement, and a retaining channel is formed in the base of the fourth container, the bail of the first container being received within the receiving channel of the fourth container and secured within the receiving channel by the top wall of the second container.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 29, 2010
Publication Date: May 5, 2011
Inventors: Michael Scot Rosko (Greenwood, IN), Kevin A. Simac (Noblesville, IN)
Application Number: 12/916,007
International Classification: B65D 21/024 (20060101);