Abstract: A stackable deep-drawn plastic container has an at least slightly conical wall and a bottom connected to the conical wall. The wall has a rim area remote from the bottom. The rim area has a first ledge and a second ledge located below the first ledge. It also has an intermediate support area having a first end connected to the first ledge and a second end connected to the second ledge. A stacking spacing of the deep-drawn plastic container when stacked in a stack is determined by the first and second ledges. The first and second ledges in a plan view onto the rim area overlap at least partially. The intermediate support area has a first width at the first ledge that is smaller than a width at the second ledge. The intermediate support area has a wave shape at least at one of the first and second ends.

Abstract: A segregated container for holding multiple substances including an outer container, and inner container, a sealing member, and a sealing cap. The inner container is at least partially slidably received within the outer container. The sealing member is releasably secured to an upper rim of the inner container so as to define a closed space within the inner container. The sealing cap is sealingly secured to the outer container circular rim so as to secure the inner container within the outer container. The inner and outer containers may each contain a substance, solid or liquid, that is isolated from the other during shipment and storage, and which may be separately accessed for use.

Abstract: A cardboard container for drinks and a process for making it is provided. The container has a perimetral wall (2) and a bottom wall and includes elements (4) for supporting another such container (1) nested inside.

Abstract: A beverage tray has a floor with peripheral, upstanding side and end walls for holding a plurality of containers of beverage, for example in six-packs. The floor has a plurality of downwardly projecting detents on its bottom surface for cooperation with the tops of beverage containers in a sub-adjacent tray to impede free sliding movement of an upper tray over the beverage containers in a sub-adjacent tray to enable stable stacking of the trays, while at the same time enabling the upper tray to be slid over the cans in the lower tray to remove the upper tray from a stack of trays. The detents are rectilinear and present spaced, opposed, parallel, straight detents that define detent sets surrounding bottle top receiving areas. The upper edge of the side wall is smoothly sinusoidally curved to define spaced, alternating upper side wall sections and recessed areas.

Abstract: A stacking crate for bottles has a plurality of tapered pylons extending upward from a periphery of a floor. A rib extends downwardly in the interior of a cavity in each pylon. Each pylon further includes a slot in an upper surface of the pylon substantially aligned with the rib. When similar crates are nested, the ribs in the pylons of one crate will rest in the slots in the upper surface of the pylons of the lower crate, thus permitting the crates to be nested.

Abstract: A nestable crate for bottles which includes a floor member and first and second pairs of opposed sidewalls integrally formed with the floor member. Each sidewall includes a side band member which is defined by a centrally disposed upper edge and lower edge. The lower edge is spaced above the floor member by a predetermined distance to define a sidewall nesting area therebelow. The upper and lower edges each contoured downwardly to form a corner band portion having a corner upper edge and corner lower edge, wherein each nesting area matingly receives a corresponding side band member of a crate nested subjacent thereto.

Abstract: A nestable crate for bottles includes a floor portion having a floor top surface, a floor bottom surface and a plurality of bottle support areas. A wall structure is connected to the floor portion and forms a containment area therewith. The wall structure has a peripherally extending upper band portion with an interior surface and an exterior surface, and also has a single-walled lower wall construction comprising adjacent column members which extend between the upper band the and floor portion. The wall structure includes sidewalls and end walls, and adjacent column members have curved facing surfaces extending inwardly into the containment area. The inner surface of the upper band portion, one of the plurality of bottle support areas, and the facing surfaces define a plurality of bottle receiving pockets extending around the periphery of the wall structure.

Abstract: A condiment container has a base and an upwardly extending sidewall that together define a storage space. The upwardly extending sidewall terminates in a perimeter lip that defines an opening for accessing the storage space. The condiment container also includes an attachment arm extending downwardly from the perimeter lip to a terminal end. A nesting aperture is positioned behind the attachment arm to enable nesting.

Abstract: A cardboard container for drinks and a process therefore, the container having a perimetral wall (2) and a bottom wall and being characterised in that it comprises means (4) for the supporting thereof when it is stackedly arranged in a respective container (1).

Abstract: A vertically stackable and nestable tub-like container is preferably formed of injection molded plastic and includes a circumferential sidewall formed with alternate inwardly and outwardly facing channel portions. Outwardly facing channel portions taper outwardly from a peripheral rim defining the upper edge of the container toward the bottom edge of the sidewall. The bottom edge of the sidewall is joined to a bottom wall by a curved intermediate wall portion and the bottom edge of the sidewall extends slightly beyond the bottom wall of the container for transferring forces acting on the sidewall directly to a support surface. Circumferentially spaced axially extending anti-nesting stops and reinforcing ribs extend along the outwardly facing channel portions of the sidewall.

Abstract: A disposable plate or tray includes a substantially planar bottom portion, a sidewall and a flange. A profile extending from the center to the outer edge of the article is characterized by a plurality of direction changes having a radius of curvature to diameter ratio of at least about 0.02.

Abstract: A vertically stackable and nestable tub-like container is preferably formed of injection molded plastic and includes a circumferential sidewall formed with alternate inwardly and outwardly facing channel portions. Outwardly facing channel portions taper outwardly from a peripheral rim defining the upper edge of the container toward the bottom edge of the sidewall. The bottom edge of the sidewall is joined to a bottom wall by a curved intermediate wall portion and the bottom edge of the sidewall extends slightly beyond the bottom wall of the container for transferring forces acting on the sidewall directly to a support surface. Circumferentially spaced axially extending anti-nesting stops and reinforcing ribs extend along the outwardly facing channel portions of the sidewall.

Abstract: A pan for use with a well for receiving the pan is disclosed herein. The pan includes a bottom panel, a plurality of walls, and a ramp. The plurality of walls extend upwardly from the bottom panel and define a cavity. The plurality of walls also have an upper end which defines a top opening. The upper end has an extension away from the cavity which defines a rim. The ramp is proximate the rim and exterior to the cavity, whereby the pan rides up on the ramp when the pan is drawn up against the well.

Abstract: A disposable plate or tray includes a substantially planar bottom portion, a sidewall and a flange. A profile extending from the center to the outer edge of the article is characterized by a plurality of direction changes having a radius of curvature to diameter ratio of at least about 0.02.

Abstract: A molded plastic cup comprising a generally cylindrical body portion, a rim and a handle, and a method of forming the cup. The body portion has an open upper end, and the rim extends radially outwardly from the perimeter of the open end of the body portion. The handle is formed as an integral part of the cup. The handle extends outwardly from substantially diametrically opposed portions of the rim and then along the rim on one side of the cup between the diametrically opposed portions. The end portions of the handle extend from the rim, and are sufficiently flexible to allow the handle to be bent upwardly from the rim so that the handle arches diametrically across the upper end of the cup. The entire cup is thermoformed from a single sheet of plastic.

Abstract: Process and plant for handling and stacking a plurality of thermoformed containers or lids-,which comprises the following sequence of phases:

Abstract: Packaging and processes for facilitating fast, efficient, and reliable production line packaging of products, and more particularly perishable products including meat products. Product trays according to the present invention are formed of non-foam plastic material with three dimensional structure and configuration that imparts an esthetically pleasing appearance and feel to the customer at the point of sale, as well as offering to the consumer a container that is microwavable, dishwasher safe and freezer safe in addition, if desired, to being recyclable. Such packaging and processes are particularly useful in newly emerging automated supply chains where inventory sales are tracked to support centralized processing of meat and other perishable products at centralized facilities for shipment to geographically distant points of sale.

Abstract: A pressed container is formed having a peripheral sidewall, a continuous bottom wall along the lower edge of the sidewall, and an outwardly directed peripheral rim along the upper edge of the sidewall and wherein an inwardly directed bulge is provided along the upper edge of the sidewall and an outwardly directed bulge is provided along the upper edge of the sidewall that cooperates with the inwardly directed bulge of an adjacent container when stacked in nesting relationship to uniformly stack the containers in nested relationship for easy separation of the containers.

Abstract: A pan for use with a well for receiving the pan is disclosed herein. The pan includes a bottom panel, a plurality of walls, and a ramp. The plurality of walls extend upwardly from the bottom panel and define a cavity. The plurality of walls also have an upper end which defines a top opening. The upper end has an extension away from the cavity which defines a rim. The ramp is proximate the rim and exterior to the cavity, whereby the pan rides up on the ramp when the pan is drawn up against the well.

Abstract: A stackable bakery tray which can be stacked upon an identical bakery tray to provide three levels of storage for bake goods. An identical upper tray can slide on rails of a lower tray when the upper tray and lower tray are each oriented in the same direction and when one tray is orientated 180° from the other tray. Two of the side walls are mirror images of each other and include extending feet and complementary level portions and openings so that extending feet of an upper tray matingly fit within either appropriate level portions or openings of lower tray. End extending feet can pivot within their appropriate level portions or openings to blendly stack and unstack the upper tray to and from the lower tray.

Abstract: A two part plastic container for food products is provided having a main body and a base for being attached to the bottom of the body. The body has a frustoconical sidewall with a radial bottom rim and the base has a shorter frustoconical sidewall with a radial bottom rim. The rims are advantageous in that they allow stacks of the container bodies and bases to be processed with container feeding equipment presently in use as the rims provide distinct structure for being fed by the mechanical devices of the equipment. An energy director area is provided between the rims for ultrasonically attaching the container body and base. The container body has a smooth sidewall over substantially its entire extent without indentations or bumps for maximizing the printing area thereon.

Abstract: An egg server for cooked eggsin the shell. The server includes a bottom wall from which a sidewall extends, to form an interior which partially receives an egg. An inclined support face is formed within the interior to accommodate a wide variety of egg sizes, increasing the usefulness of the server. The lower outer face of the server may be of reduced size to nest within the interior of another of the egg servers, permitting multiple egg servers to be placed in a stacked position for storage. An upper rim of the sidewall may have a shape which mates with itself in an inverted position, permitting the upper rims of two egg servers to abut when the upper of the two egg servers rest upon the other egg server in an inverted relationship referred to as an insulating position. In this insulating position the two egg servers combine to encase an egg, retaining its heat prior to serving.

Abstract: A stackable, nestable, and reusable container for storing, transporting, and dispersing elongated materials, such as wire or cable. The container includes a first substantially cylindrical portion, a second substantially cylindrical portion located concentrically within the first portion, a container bottom interconnecting the lower ends of the substantially cylindrical portions so as to define an annular channel therebetween for storing a coil of elongate material therein; and a mechanism provided with at least one of the first and second substantially cylindrical portions for securely supporting an identical second container thereon when the second container is in a rotatively aligned stacking configuration with the first container, and for compactly receiving the second container in the annular channel when the second container is in a rotatively aligned nesting configuration with the first container.

Abstract: A container 10 comprises walls 12 which are upstanding from a base 14 to define a space 16 within which items may be placed, such as for transportation or storage. The walls 12 are sloped to allow the container 10 to nest with a like container. The container 10 further comprises filler members 18 locatable within the space 16 at positions fixed relative to the walls 12. When so located, the fillers 18 define, in use, a substantially vertical boundary to the said space.

Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses a plurality of beverage carrying cups which can be easily stacked. The beverage carrying containers have an insulated jacket 12 which substantially covers the exterior of the container providing insulated means for carrying hot liquids, as well as providing means for maintaining the temperature of the liquid. Further the beverage carrying containers have slidable rotatable retractable extendable handles 14. Each handle 14 is affixed to the container by rivet like members 16 located on the exterior upper portion of the container 10. The handle 14 in the retracted position conforms substantially to the exterior shape of the container. In the selectively extended position, the handle 14 slides down and is rotated into an upward operative position thereby enabling the user to carry the container 10 the handle 14.

Abstract: A plastic container of an essentially rectangular shape comprises a bottom, upright side walls connecting to the bottom and having essentially equal thicknesses, and an outward beaded top edge on which the edge of a cover which closes the container can be fixed. Each upright side wall is divided in the vertical direction of the container into two interconnecting side wall parts, the lower side wall part being made curved towards the inside of the container (concave), and the upper side wall part being made curved towards the outside of the container (convex), and the upper and lower side wall parts being connected to each other by an intermediate part. This produces a very stable container, which is suitable for storage and transportation of sensitive powdered materials.

Abstract: A tub box for receiving a drain trap is formed from two substantially identical plastic housing portions each including one or more round knockouts in one or more side walls of the housing portions and one or more edge flange knockouts in an edge flange of each housing portion and side walls in line with and terminating in close proximity to the respective round knockouts. Pull tabs on the round knockouts facilitate removal of the round knockouts from the housing portions and limit the amount of nesting of the housing portions inside one another when stacked for storage and shipment so the housing portions can easily be pulled apart when desired. A lip protrudes axially outwardly from the radial outer edge of the edge flange of each housing portion around one half only of the periphery of each edge flange for overlapping engagement with the outer edge of the edge flange of an other housing portion when the edge flanges of two housing portions are placed in engagement with one another.

Abstract: Stackable servingware is provided with repeating flange patterns configured to resist nesting and taper lock. The patterns include a first pattern which is chiral with respect to a second pattern such that the patterns are not superimposable on one another. Preferably, the servingware is packaged in alternating sequence such that each article in a stack has a flange pattern which mirrors the flange pattern of adjacent articles.

Abstract: A food pan with at least one louvered vent in an upper area of a wall of the pan. The louvered vents allow air flow across the top of a serving table to be directed more efficiently toward the surface of the contents of the pan. The vents enable tempered air to flow easily across the surface of the contents of the pan so that the contents are maintained at the desired temperature. The louvers extend outward from the body of the pan so that an anti-jamming mechanism is formed when the pans are stacked together. This construction addresses the two chief problems connected to food pans.

Abstract: A two part plastic container for food products is provided having a main body and a base for being attached to the bottom of the body. The body has a frustoconical sidewall with a radial bottom rim and the base has a shorter frustoconical sidewall with a radial bottom rim. The rims are advantageous in that they allow stacks of the container bodies and bases to be processed with container feeding equipment presently in use as the rims provide distinct structure for being fed by the mechanical devices of the equipment. An energy director area is provided between the rims for ultrasonically attaching the container body and base. The container body has a smooth sidewall over substantially its entire extent without indentations or bumps for maximizing the printing area thereon.

Abstract: A container lid including for holding a painting implement suspended above or in a liquid such as paint. The container lid includes a container engaging periphery for engaging the periphery of the container. A lid web extends between the container engaging periphery and an handle receiving aperture which passes through the lid web. The handle of the painting implement is gripped from above the handle receiving aperture. The handle of the painting implement is gripped between two opposed walls extending upwardly of the lid web which are held in a substantially fixed position relative to one another by sides, the opposed walls are spaced apart to an extent that they exert a clamping effect on the handle of the painting implement when inserted therebetween.

Abstract: A food or drink container more particularly with an integrally formed handle or handles which can be assembled from a stacking position to a position of use is described. In one construction the container (1) comprises a cup-shaped part (2) which tapers from an upper rim (3) to a cone or round shaped base (4) terminating in a base rim (5) with a cutaway portion (6) forming an angled edge (7). Extending radially from the upper rim (3) is a winged projection (8) the center part (9) of which is horizontal to the upper rim. Two fold lines (10) are formed in the part (9) to facilitate the folding of two wings (12a, 12b) downwards as shown by arrows “A”. The edge walls (13) of the wings (12a, 12b) engage and abut each other in their fully folded down position to form a resilient handle.

Abstract: A plant pot which not only is capable, when empty, of being conveniently and compactly stored or "nested" in a columnar formation along with other unfilled pots like itself, but also has the ability, after a plant and growing medium have been placed in the pot, to be stacked in any of a number of orderly and stable arrangements among other planted pots, also of the same construction. Stacking of plant-containing pots is made possible by a plurality of interlock stacking grooves provided on the bottom of each pot. Six (6) grooves are provided, and the sides of every other groove define an arced ledge that can be rested upon and abutted against the inner periphery of the rim of another pot so that a number of pots can be arranged to form a securely stacked structure.

Abstract: A molded plastic beverage cup comprising a generally cylindrical body portion, a rim and a handle, and a method of forming the cup. The body portion has an open upper end, and the rim extends radially outwardly from the perimeter of the open end of the body portion. The handle is formed as an integral part of the cup. The handle extends outwardly from substantially diametrically opposed portions of the rim and then along the rim on one side of the cup between the diametrically opposed portions. The end portions of the handle extend from the rim, and are sufficiently flexible to allow the handle to be bent upwardly from the rim so that the handle arches diametrically across the upper end of the cup. The entire cup is thermoformed from a single sheet of plastic.

Abstract: A full-depth nestable crate includes a plurality of columns, projections and channels disposed along exterior and interior surfaces of a retainer wall such that a top crate is nestable within a bottom crate in a first position and stacked on top of a bottom crate when rotated 180.degree. to a second position with respect to the bottom crate. A plurality of stacking rings depend from the bottom floor and interlock a top crate with a bottom crate when crates are stacked or nested. Each stacking ring is aligned with a pocket in the crate and disposed over a bottle in a bottom crate. A bottle cap on the bottle seats within a depression formed in the stacking ring.

Abstract: A supporting shelf for compact disks includes at least a first tubular housing and a second tubular housing and each has a different inner diameter but a similar cross section. The second tubular housing that has a small inner diameter is disposed within the first tubular housing. Each of the first and second tubular housings has its opening directed upward for readily engagement therebetween. Each of the tubular housings is provided with a plurality of retaining slots at the outer wall and that are parallel to each other, wherein a CD can be readily inserted and retained by the retaining slots of the housings. When a plurality of first and second tubular housings are engaged with each other, a tower-shape supporting shelf can be configured. Each of the receiving slots can be directed upward and angularly. The engagement between the first and second tubular housing can be facilitated through retaining holes and pin-shaft or retaining ball and recess.

Abstract: A stackable glass tumbler is disclosed having minimal contact between the outer surface of the upper tumbler with the inner surface of the lower tumbler, thus decreasing sticking between the stacked tumblers. The tumbler provides a desirable capacity to height ratio when stacked, and has a plurality of surfaces to which decorative material can easily be added.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable reusable hazardous waste container system which preferably includes a plurality of elongate waste containers which are attachable in fluid flow communication with each other and with a drilling apparatus. The containers can be transported to a drilling site by stacking them in nesting fashion on a transport vehicle and can be emptied of drilling waste after a drilling operation is completed and retransported to another drilling site. The containers include a bracing structure at the bottom thereof which allows each container to be nested within another container without causing substantial frictional interference which would make it difficult to separate the containers for reuse. The waste container system of the present invention alleviates the need for construction of a ground pit for storage of drilling waste at a drilling site.

Abstract: A stackable bottle case includes side surfaces divided into side walls running around the bottom and supporting pillars protruding upward beyond the side walls, and a bottom for receiving the bottles. The supporting pillars in the area of the case sides extend with their outside surfaces in essentially directly flush continuation of the side wall outside surface from there upward and on a slightly inward slant. This results not only in a compact exterior but also in smooth outside surfaces of the side surfaces which firstly avoid a danger of injury during handling of the cases and secondly permit easy cleaning of the bottle case. The slight inward slant of these pillars permits uncomplicated engagement of the stacked bottle cases when they contain no bottles. In addition, this inward slant permits fast stacking because when a bottle case is placed above it is automatically centered on the bottle case below by the inward slanting pillars on all sides and then mounted in centered fashion.

Abstract: A container which may be nestably stacked with a similar container, said container having:a lip;a base;a sealing member situated between the lip and the base of the container to define a compartment within the container, said compartment being adapted to accommodate a product;and a shank attached to the sealing member, said shank lying adjacent a wall of the container and passing from the sealing member to the lip of the container, the shank and sealing member being positioned so as to allow a similar container to be nested in the container, the sealing member being removable from the container by pulling an end of the shank adjacent to the lip of the container.

Abstract: A tapered cup having an outwardly rolled lip includes a cup wall having an upper portion that is outwardly flared more than an adjacent lower wall portion. The cup can include a groove below the outwardly rolled lip in the inner face of the cup wall. The cup can be provided with stacking ribs within the cup to aid in stacking of two or more cups. The cup can include a tapered lid with an outwardly flared lip that seats against the inner wall of the cup and that does not extend over the lip of the cup. The lid can include a locking ring below the outwardly flared lip of the lid that is adapted for insertion into the groove in the cup. The lid further includes a fluid port.

Abstract: A bowl cover assembly having a configuration which provides for secure interlocking between the bowl and cover with at least one opening for venting purposes along the rim of the cover when the cover is locked onto the bowl.

Abstract: A container having a base and a sidewall portion extending upwardly therefrom is characterized by striations in the sidewall which define removable strips of the sidewall portion. A shoulder adjacent the opening of the container improves handling of the container, prevents or restricts undesired rotation of the container, restricts or preventing the flow of gas or liquid or solid from above the shoulder means to below the shoulder or vice versa, and stabilizes the containers when, for example, a plurality of them is arranged appropriately. A method of use of such containers is disclosed, including the steps of providing a plurality of such containers and arranging them appropriately.

Abstract: A dispensing bin and cover cooperate to support many times the bin's capacity stacked on the cover. With the cover removed, empty bins nest for storage. Vertical stacking capacity is enhanced by surrounding the top opening of the bin with a reinforcement that maintains the horizontal shape of the top opening. A vertical component of the weight of identical bins stacked on top of the cover is opposed by a horizontal reaction force provided by the reinforcement and communicated to tapered sides. The dispensing aperture has a gate that automatically latches closed and permits sealing by conventional loop tag or tie. The cover has superior strength yet is light in weight so that handling of the cover is feasible by one man without machine assistance. Snap bails are held in place by intrinsic spring tension when stowed against bin sides or snapped onto the cover for retaining the cover to the bin. Snap bails are also used for lifting the full bin.

Abstract: A thermoplastic molded or formed container has four trapezoidal walls that incline upwardly and outwardly upstanding from a bottom wall to create a top opening that is larger than the bottom wall. Each side wall has a closure flap that is connected to it at an upper edge by a living hinge. A locking handle member in the shape of a loop with locking extensions extends from an edge of one flap and engages a slot in an opposite flap. The handle member is a loop with locking projections which engage the opposite flap surface, the handle member passing through the slot for manually grasping. The container may be square or rectangular in transverse section or a combination thereof with a conical truncated section.

Abstract: There is provided a nurser liner that facilitates stacking and nesting of the liner while maximizing liner capacity. In particular, it permits a plurality of the liners to be contained within a container having limited internal space while allowing the liners to de-nest properly and individually from the container. The nurser liner includes a rim that is located at one end of the liner and a step that is located a predetermined distance from the rim. In addition, the outer walls of the liner are slightly tapered inward from the rim. The step and the tapered outer walls insure uniform spacings between nested liners for easy dispensing, optimal spacing between liners and maximum liner capacity.

Abstract: A thin walled lid formed of a thermoplastic material having a generally circular center portion and an outer rim portion which fits over the cup bead and includes an integral peripheral skirt which makes up the outer side wall of the lid is disclosed. Located between the rim portion and the center portion is a recess or annular trough with an inner wall and an outer wall. The outer wall is separated into two shelves and three vertical sections. The lower shelf serves as a receiver ring upon which the lid above rests. The short vertical section located above the receiver ring effectively prevents any lateral movement of the lid above, while the lowest wall section forms the stacking ring and generally has a negative slope toward the lid skirt. Spaced periodically around the circumference of the stacking ring are positive draft flutes which have a positive slope away from the skirt and toward the center of the lid. The recess has a generally flat bottom which connects the stacking ring to the inner wall.

Abstract: Molded plastic plates having a rolled edge rim and a method of rolling the edges of molded plastic plated. The plastic plates are pre-molded with lugs that project outwardly from the sides of the plates. The lugs of one plate contact the rim of the next successive plate in a stack of plates to create a gap between the plates stacked one on top of another. The gap allows each individual plate to be picked up by the threads on a plurality of threaded rollers which press on the rim of the plate to form the rolled edge.

Abstract: An open top container having a drum and a lid wherein the lid engages the drum for sealing the contents thereof using clamps which secure the lid and drum into an engaged relationship. The lid and drum utilize a cammed engagement member so that as the clamps are activated the cammed surface provides a tightening of the lid to the drum.

Abstract: A beverage cup carrier includes multiple pockets arranged in laterally spaced relation. Each pocket includes a bottom wall, a plurality of conical side wall portions, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced webs. The side wall portions encompass the bottom wall and extend upwardly and outwardly therefrom. The side wall portions are circumferentially spaced from each other and form surface portions of a curved surface of an imaginary inverted cone. The webs interconnect the side wall portions and extend radially inward from the curved surface of the imaginary inverted cone. Each of the webs includes a flat central section and a pair of opposing side sections connecting the central section to adjacent ones of the conical side wall portions. The central section extends upwardly and outwardly from the bottom wall. The pair of opposing side sections of each of the webs form surface portions of a curved surface of a respective imaginary upright cone.