INTERLOCKING CONTAINER FOR CONDUCTION OF FLOWABLE MATERIALS

Abstract

An apparatus for containing and conducting flowable materials, including liquids, pourable solids, or gases, the apparatus having mateable dovetails on four sides, and mateable screw engagements at the top and bottom. The screw engagements are operative to maintain a sealed connection between successive containers, and contain barriers which are adapted to be removed, whereby the material may flow from one interconnected container to the next, in the manner of piping. A lateral connection may additionally be formed by mating portions at the leading and trailing ends of vertically connected containers.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container for flowable materials, mateably engageable laterally and vertically with like containers, Connections are provided whereby successive containers may be joined in a sealed manner to conduct flowable materials from one container to the next.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The disadvantages of landfilling solid consumable waste, and plastic containers in particular, are well known. A common alternative is to recycle containers, by collecting, sorting and reprocessing the material, as by grinding, melting, and molding. There are numerous problems with recycling plastics, however. These include the need to carefully sort different types of plastic, the cost of transporting the material to a reprocessing site, the high energy required for melting and reprocessing the material, and the difficulties associated with separating biodegradeable plastics, or plastics containing dyes or additives.

These problems are avoided when a container is reused. A challenge remains, however, to find sufficient demand for containers in their existing form, so that large numbers of them may be reused. Various approaches have been proposed, including forming toy building blocks in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,175,498 to Garpow et al, and D349046 to Brown, barrier walls in U.S. Patent Publication 2006-0261063 A1 to Grosso, displays and Furniture in U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,295 to Stoner, and sheds in U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,383 to Moore.

In Garpow and Brown, the utility of the containers are limited in that the containers may be joined by mating portions, but are easily separated. In Grosso and Moore, the lateral sides of the container contain portions which mate and interlock, thus enabling a wider variety of structures to be formed. In Grosso, however, there is no integral interlocking vertical connection. In Stoner, cans are threaded together vertically, but are not formed with lateral interconnections. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,549 to Fasci et al, vertical and lateral connections are made by snap fastening, but are thus relatively easily pulled apart, as compared to the interlocking connections of Grosso, Moore, or Stoner. In Moore, a vertical threaded connection is disclosed, as well as lateral interconnections on two sides of a container.

While the containers disclosed in the cited references present some potential for reuse, there remains considerable demand for a more versatile, and thus more sought after container, as evidenced by the relatively small percentage of containers that are reused today. It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a container with high vertical and lateral connection strength, and which affords additional uses, whereby a much greater incidence of reuse is realized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, a container is provided for containing flowable materials, such as liquids, pourable solids, and gases. It is a goal of the invention to provide a container which is favored by consumers, whereby consumable producers are motivated to switch from non-reusable containers to containers in accordance with the invention, whereby the environmental benefits of reuse may be realized.

Accordingly, the container may be of any useable size, but embodiments sized in the range of popular consumer containers are advantageous. The container may be formed from a wide variety of materials, including paper, wood, pressed pulp, plastic, metal, or plasticised or plastic coated material. Plastic is a preferred material for drink containers, and thus the container of the present invention is advantageously made with plastic, both for its acceptability from a consumer standpoint, and for its physical properties with respect to manufacturing.

The body of the container may have any of a variety of shapes with an internal volume. Advantageous shapes include those most commonly found for containers of consumer products, including elongated cylindrical or rectangular configurations. The latter has the additional advantage of imparting addition strength to an assemblage of containers.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, at least two lateral mating and interlocking portions extend along the side of a container. Interlocking designs include dovetails, or any other shaped profile which engages in a like manner. Specifically, in accordance with the invention, an elongated engaging portion of one container slideably engages an elongated engaging portion of another container along the vertical axis of the container. Containers thus joined cannot be separated by applying a force perpendicular to the vertical axis without deformation or damage to the engaging portions. To facilitate repetitive interlocking on all four sides with a single container design, it is advantageous to have opposing sides that are either both male engaging, or both female engaging.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a spout is formed at a leading end of the container, terminating with a threaded engaging ring. A threaded cap may be applied to the engaging ring to seal the container. An inversion, or aperture is formed at the trailing end of the container, extending into the interior of the container, sized sufficiently large to rotatably receive a spout from the leading end of a second mating container. A threaded receiving ring is disposed at the terminal end of the inwardly extending aperture, operative to threadably engage the engaging ring at the leading end of the second container. In this manner, like containers may be attached end to end, or vertically, one to the other, in a secure manner. The shape of the spout may be any of a variety of shapes, including conical, semispherical, and tubular, or the spout may be eliminated, whereby the engaging ring is disposed proximate the leading end of the container, and the receiving ring is disposed proximate the trailing end of the container.

Structures are formed by connecting successive containers together, vertically and or laterally, in order to achieve the desired configuration. Additional strength and thickness may be generated by combining multiple lateral layers.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an additional or alternative connection is formed on the lateral leading and terminating portions of the container. A portion of a coupling is formed partly within the trailing end of the first container, and a portion is formed partly within the leading end of a second container. When containers are positioned end to end, a structure results that is sized and shaped to receive a cap. When a cap is positioned over the two portions, successive containers are secured to each other, vertically, and are also prevented from rotating with respect to each other.

Further in accordance with the invention, an end wall may be provided at the terminal end of the inwardly extending aperture at the trailing end of the container. The wall is operative to retain flowable materials within the container. The wall may be provided with a weakened portion, whereby the wall may be easily pierced, split, pushed aside or removed, as by pushing with a finger, rod, or other object. In so doing, containers connected vertically as described above may be coupled to a supply of flowable material, using threaded connectors or adapters, and the connected containers thus used in the manner of piping to convey the flowable materials from a source to a destination. Further, end wall portions of the lateral couplings described above may also be provided with weakened portions, whereby the flowable material may be tapped at various points along the pipe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a container in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts the container of FIG. 1, viewed from the trailing end;

FIG. 2a depicts an alternative interlocking shape for the container of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 depicts a leading end of a container in accordance with the invention, further illustrating detent engagements;

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a container in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates successively vertically coupled containers in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates laterally connected containers in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 7 depicts lateral coupling portions in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 8 depicts the coupling portions of FIG. 6, with a threadably engaged cap;

FIG. 9 depicts the coupling portions of FIG. 6, with weakened end wall portions;

FIG. 10 depicts a cross-section of the container of FIG. 4, taken along line 9-9;

FIG. 11 depicts alternative scaling methods in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, an exemplary container 10 in accordance with the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. Container 10 has an inner chamber 12 operative to contain, and as described further below, transport flowable materials, such as liquids, pourable solids, and gases. It is a goal of the invention to provide a container which is favored by consumers, whereby consumable producers are motivated to switch from non-reusable containers to containers in accordance with the invention, whereby the environmental benefits of reuse may be realized.

Accordingly, the container may be of any useable size, but embodiments sized in the range of popular consumer containers would be advantageous. T he container may be formed from a wide variety of materials, including paper, wood, pressed pulp, plastic, metal, or plasticised or plastic coated material. Plastic is a preferred material for drink containers, and thus the container of the present invention is advantageously made with plastic, both for its acceptability from a consumer standpoint, and for its physical properties with respect to manufacturing.

The body of the container may have any of a variety of shapes with an internal volume. Advantageous shapes include those most commonly found for containers of consumer products, including elongated cylindrical or rectangular configurations. The latter has the additional advantage of imparting addition strength to an assemblage of containers. A container in accordance with the invention may be advantageously formed in a triangular shape, as well as in shapes having more than four sides.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, and with further reference to FIGS. 1-3, at least two lateral mating and interlocking portions 14,16 extend along the side of a container. Interlocking designs include dovetails 18, or any other shaped profile which engages in a like manner, such as shapes 20,22 of FIG. 2a. Specifically, in accordance with the invention, an elongated engaging portion of one container slideably engages an elongated engaging portion of another container along the vertical axis of the container.

For male engaging portions, a connecting member extends outwardly from the side of the container, and conversely, for female engaging portions, a connecting member extends into the interior of the container. In each case, the extension has a narrow region close to the container side, and a wider portion further away from the container side.

Containers thus joined cannot be separated by applying a force perpendicular to the vertical axis without deformation or damage to the engaging portions. To facilitate repetitive interlocking on all four sides with a single container design, it is advantageous to have two sides that are male engaging, such as portions 14,14a, and two sides that are female engaging, such as portions 16,16a. In the figures, opposite sides of the container have like engaging portions, It is additionally possible to enable continuous lateral connections where two adjacent sides have male engaging portions, and the remaining two adjacent sides have female engaging portions. Where more limited lateral connections are acceptable, an engaging portion may be formed on one side of the container, however a male style and a female style container would be required. For containers with two engaging portions, it is advantageous to have one engaging portion be male, and the other female, in order that a single container style will suffice for lateral connections.

In the figures, interlocking portions 14,16 extend from a leading end 100 of container 10 to trailing end 102. It should be understood, however, that interlocking portions 14,16 may extend transversely, and thus perpendicular to an axis passing through the leading and trailing ends of the container, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a spout 24 is formed at leading end 100, terminating with a threaded engaging ring 26. A threaded cap 28 may be applied to the engaging ring to seal the container. An aperture 30 is formed at trailing end 102, extending as an inwardly projecting inversion into the interior of the container, sized sufficiently large to rotatably receive a spout from the leading end of a second mating container. A threaded receiving ring 32 is disposed at the terminal end of the inwardly extending aperture, operative to threadably engage the engaging ring 26 at the leading end of a second container. It should be understood, however, that threaded engagement may be provided at any point along spout 24, with correspondingly positioned threads within aperture 30.

In this manner, like containers may be attached end to end, or vertically, one to the other, in a secure manner, as shown in FIG. 5. The shape of the spout may be any of a variety of shapes, including conical, semispherical, and tubular, or the spout may be eliminated, as shown by container 34 of FIG. 4, whereby the engaging ring 26 is disposed proximate leading end 100, and the receiving ring 32 is disposed proximate trailing end 102.

With reference to FIG. 5, structures are formed by connecting successive containers together, vertically and or laterally, in order to achieve the desired configuration. Three containers 10,10a,10b are shown, vertically connected, wherein container 10a is threaded into container 10 via engaging ring 26 and receiving ring 32. Similarly, container 10b is threaded into container 10a. When a container in accordance with the invention is taller than it is wide, the vertical, or end to end connection, may also be termed longitudinal.

Additional strength and thickness may be generated by combining multiple lateral layers, as shown in FIG. 6. Containers are connected laterally as described above. Examples include containers 10c, 10d, and 10e. If a vertical connection is desired, such connections are made first, while containers are not laterally interconnected and are thus free to rotate, after which lateral connections may be made. It is therefore important that interlocking portions 14,16 align in vertically connected containers.

With reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, in accordance with another aspect of the invention, a portion of a lateral coupling 38 is formed on the lateral leading end 104 and lateral terminating end 106 of container 10, as projections of substantially a half of a cylinder. A whole lateral coupling 38 is formed by the adjacent positioning of portion 40, formed in the trailing end of a first container, and portion 42, formed in the leading end of a second container. When containers are positioned vertically, or end to end, a cylindrical structure is formed from portions 40,42 that is sized and shaped to receive a joining member 44. In one embodiment, the resultant shape is sized to receive cap 28, provided for attachment to engaging ring 26. When cap 28 is positioned over the two portions, successive containers are thus secured to each other, vertically and are also prevented from rotating about a vertical axis, with respect to each other. As can be seen in FIG. 8, cap 28 may be provided with a slot 46, or other tool engagement recess or projection, to facilitate engagement of cap 28 with a tool, such as a screw driver or wrench (not shown). Alternatively, as can be seen in FIG. 10, recesses or indentations 64,66 may be provided adjacent to one or both of portions 40,42, whereby fingers may more easily grasp joining member 44, in order to facilitate manipulation of joining member 44, as when attaching or removing joining member 44.

Referring again to FIG. 9, a lateral end area of portions 40,42 may be provided with weakened areas 48,50, whereby the wall may be more easily pierced, split, pushed aside or removed, as by pushing with a finger, rod, or other object. In one embodiment, scoring 52,54 is provided, which does not completely penetrate the material of portion 40, whereby the container 10 may maintain gas or liquid sealing ability until area 48 or 50 is removed.

With reference to FIG. 10, aperture 30 terminates in an end wall 56 which maintains the gas or liquid sealing ability of container 10 at the trailing end of the container. As described with respect to areas 48,50, end wall 56 may be similarly weakened, as by scoring 58, and thus be easily removed in order to enable the passage of liquid or gas from container to container when successive containers 10 are connected vertically, thus forming a pipe or conduit. Means of forming an aperture in end wall 56 is discussed further, below, with respect to FIGS. 11a-11c.

The threaded connection between engaging ring 26 and receiving ring 32 advantageously forms a gas or liquid tight seal between successive containers. In one embodiment, the seal is formed along the periphery of end wall 56, although a seal may alternatively be formed below end wall 56, closer to or at trailing end 102.

Accordingly, containers connected vertically as described above may be coupled to a supply of flowable material, using threaded connectors or adapters, and the connected containers thus used in the manner of piping to convey the flowable materials from a source to a destination. Lateral couplings, as described above, may have weakened areas 48,50 removed, whereby the flowable material may be tapped at various points along the pipe.

An alternative means of forming lateral coupling 38 is illustrated in FIG. 10, in which portion 60 corresponds to portion 40, however portion 60 is provided with deformable ribs 62. A portion corresponding to portion 42 (not shown) is similarly formed with ribs. In this embodiment, a joining member, such as a cap having a smooth or ribbed internal bore (not shown), may be pushed onto the coupling to secure successive containers. Indentations 64,66 facilitate removing the cap using fingers or a tool. In accordance with the invention, any or all sides of container 10 may be provided with one or more lateral couplings as described.

With further reference to FIG. 6, it should be understood that vertically connected containers configured for flowable materials may be additionally connected laterally, thereby increasing both the total flow volume capacity and strength of a piping structure thus formed.

With reference to FIGS. 11a-11c, several embodiments in accordance with the invention are illustrated for forming an aperture for the passage of flowable material from a first container to a second container. For clarity, each of FIGS. 11a-11c illustrates only the end wall 56 of aperture 30. In FIG. 11a, a thickened rib 70 is formed near the periphery of end wall 56. Cut marks 72 indicate suggested locations for making cuts with a knife or tool. Rib 70 thus serves to reduce the likelihood that the tool will pass beyond the area to be cut, where it might otherwise structurally weaken the container, or damage a sealing area 82 beyond rib 70. Cut marks 72 may be printed on end wall 56, or may be formed from visible scoring. The scoring may be formed as a continuous groove, or as shown, as a dotted pattern of partial perforations.

In FIG. 11b, wall 56 is provided with a pull-off seal 74. Tab 76 is grasped by fingers or a tool, and is pulled in order to remove seal 74. Levering tab 76 outwards, away from a resting plane essentially parallel with wall 56, may serve to form an initial separation of seal 74 and wall 56. As tab 76 is pulled in a direction away from the trailing end of container 10, seal 74 continues to separate from wall 56, until an aperture sufficiently wide has been formed. Seal 74 may be adapted to be completely separate from wall 56. Alternatively, seal 74 may be advantageously formed to not separate entirely from wall 56, thus reducing the incidence of litter. Seal 74 may be connected to container 10 along a weakened path 76, formed between wall 56 and seal 74, wherein weakened path 76 does not extend completely around the periphery of seal 74. Seal 74 may alternatively be attached to container 10 with adhesive or heat bonding, including ultrasonic bonding.

With reference to FIG. 11c, a plug 78 penetrates an aperture in end wall 56. Dotted seal line 80 indicates a sealing region between wall 56 and plug 78. In this manner, container 10 is formed with a suitable aperture, and plug 78 is installed during the manufacturing or filling process, where it may be stamped into engagement with container 10, or be press fit, or fasted by adhesive or heat bonding. As in FIG. 11b, a pull tab may be provided, attached to plug 78, to facilitate removal.

Connected as described above, containers in accordance with the present invention may be used to form a variety of structures, including as examples landscape or irrigation piping, solar heating structures, fluid or gas reservoirs, and potable or sanitation water conduits. Containers may be cut transversely to form a cup or receptacle, whose surface area may be increased through lateral connections. A combination of lateral and vertical connections, in combination with transverse cuts as described, can be used to collect liquids or gases and conduct them to a collection point, for example to collect rainwater, or to concentrate gas production from decomposing farm waste. It should be emphasized that the present invention is not limited to the uses described above, but may be adapted to a variety of uses not described herein.

Due to the very low cost of containers in accordance with the invention., it is possible to construct structures which would otherwise be unfeasible in many communities, and thus may significantly improve a standard of living therein, thereby reducing human suffering. Containers may be collected in communities where they were initially used to contain a consumer product, and thereafter transported in bulk to communities where they may be used as described herein.

All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. There are many different features to the present invention and it is contemplated that these features may be used together or separately. Thus, the invention should not be limited to any particular combination of features or to a particular application of the invention. Further, it should be understood that variations and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention might occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. Accordingly, all expedient modifications readily attainable by one versed in the art from the disclosure set forth herein that are within the scope and spirit of the present invention are to be included as further embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A container adapted to interlock vertically and laterally with like containers, the container comprising:

a first side including an outer surface, and a first connecting member extending outwardly from said outer surface, and having a narrow portion proximate said outer surface relative to a wide portion distal to said outer surface;

a second side including an outer surface, and a second connecting member extending inwardly from said outer surface, and having a narrow portion proximate said outer surface relative to a wide portion distal to said outer surface, adapted to slideably engage a first connecting member of a like container to create a lateral connection;

a leading end comprising a threadably sealable opening;

a trailing end adapted to threadably and sealably engage a leading end of a like container to create a vertical connection;

means for joining said first and second sides, and said leading and trailing ends, whereby an interior volume is formed, adapted to contain a flowable material; and

an end wall in said trailing end adapted to be openable;

wherein a conduit may be formed by opening an end wall in a container, and creating a vertical connection with a like container.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein a first connecting member of a container and a second connecting member or a like container form a sliding dovetail joint.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the container includes four sides, wherein two sides are formed as said first side, and the remaining two sides are formed as said second side,

4. The container of claim 1, wherein said first and second connecting members extend from said leading end to said trailing end.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein said container is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of paper, wood, pressed pulp, plastic, metal, material containing plastic, plastic coated material.

6. The container of claim 1, further including a sealing surface adjacent to said end wall, operative to form a liquid and gas tight seal when a first container is threaded into a like container.

7. The container of claim 17 further including:

a spout disposed about said leading end; and

a threaded ring disposed about said spout.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein said trailing end further comprises an inversion projecting into the interior of the container and sized to permit passage and rotation of a spout of a like container.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein at least two conduits formed from at least two vertically connected like containers arc connected laterally.

10. The container of claim 1, wherein said end wall is adapted to be openable using means selected from the group consisting of, scoring, partial perforation, adhered panel, plug.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein said means to form an opening include a pull tab.

12. The container of claim 1, wherein a series of containers are connected to form an apparatus selected from the group consisting of: landscape piping, irrigation piping, solar heating structure, fluid reservoir, gas reservoir, potable water conduit, sanitation water conduit.

13. A container adapted to interlock vertically and laterally with like containers, the container comprising:

a first side including an outer surface, and a first connecting member extending outwardly from said outer surface, and having a narrow portion proximate said outer surface relative to a wide portion distal to said outer surface;

a second side including an outer surface, and a second connecting member extending inwardly from said outer surface, and having a narrow portion proximate said outer surface relative to a wide portion distal to said outer surface, adapted to slideably engage a first connecting member of a like container to create a lateral connection;

a leading end comprising a threadably sealable opening;

a trailing end adapted to threadably and sealably engage a leading end of a like container to create a vertical connection;

means for joining said first and second sides, and said leading and trailing ends, whereby an interior volume is formed, adapted to contain a flowable material;

an end wall in said trailing end adapted to be openable;

a first coupling portion formed in said trailing end; and

a second coupling portion formed in said leading end;

wherein a conduit is formed by opening an end wall in a first container, and threadably engaging a second container to create a vertical connection; and

wherein when containers are connected vertically, a whole coupling is formed by the adjacent positioning of said first coupling portion and said second coupling portion.

14. The container of claim 13, wherein said first and second coupling portions are each formed as a projection having the shape of substantially half of a cylinder; and

wherein when containers are connected vertically, a cylindrically shaped projection is formed by adjacent first and second coupling portions.

15. The container of claim 14, wherein said first and second coupling portions are joinable by a cap, fitted over the cylindrically shaped projection.

16. The container of claim 15, wherein said first coupling portion and said second coupling portion are each provided with mating threads;

whereby the cap is threadably connectable to either said cylindrically shaped projection or said leading end.

17. The container of claim 15, further including:

a first indented area adjacent to said first coupling;

a second indented area adjacent to said second coupling;

wherein a finger may be inserted into each of said first and second indented areas to facilitate attaching or removing the cap.

18. The container of claim 13, further including:

a first end wall in said first coupling portion;

a second end wall in said second coupling portion;

wherein at least one of said first and second end walls is adapted to be openable.

19. A drink container adapted to interlock vertically and laterally with like containers, the container comprising:

first and second sides, each including an outer surface, and a first connecting member extending outwardly from said outer surface, and having a narrow portion proximate said outer surface relative to a wide portion distal to said outer surface;

third and fourth sides, each including an outer surface, and a second connecting member extending inwardly from said outer surface, and having a narrow portion proximate said outer surface relative to a wide portion distal to said outer surface, adapted to slideably engage a first connecting member of a like container to create a lateral connection;

a leading end having a spout, a threaded ring, and an opening;

a trailing end having an inversion extending from said trailing end into the interior of the container, sized and shaped to rotatably receive a spout and leading end threaded ring of a like container, a trailing end threaded ring, disposed at the interior end of said inversion, operative to threadably and sealably engage a leading end threaded ring of a like container, to create a vertical connection, and an end wall at the interior end of said inversion adapted to be openable;

a first coupling portion formed in said trailing end and an adjacent side having the shape of substantially half of a cylinder;

a second coupling portion formed in said leading end and an adjacent side having the shape of substantially half of a cylinder;

wherein when containers are connected vertically, a whole coupling having the shape of substantially a whole cylinder is formed by the adjacent positioning of said first coupling portion and said second coupling portion; and

wherein a conduit may be formed by opening an end wall in a container, and creating a vertical connection with a like container.

20. The container of claim 18 wherein said first coupling portion and said second coupling portion are each provided with thread portions;

whereby a cap threadably connectable to said leading end threaded ring is threadably connectable to said cylindrically shaped projection, when like containers are threaded together.