Interlocking cans
A container, such as a can, has an outer surface including having a bottom surface and a top surface. The bottom surface is capable of engaging the top surface of another container for stacking the containers. A connection mechanism has a pair of complementary components carried by the outer surface of the container wherein one of the pair of complementary components is carried by the container engages the other of the pair of complementary components carried by another container for securing the containers together.
The present invention relates to a container and more particularly to a can having an integrated connection mechanism for allowing interlocking of cans.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONBeverages, such as beer and soda, are stored in numerous forms. One of the more common is a beverage can typically made from aluminum to hold a single serving of a beverage. While sizes vary and include 8, 12, and 24 ounces can and 330 milliliter, and 500 milliliter can, the most common size container in the United States is 12 ounces.
While cans are convenient for serving, individuals cans are not convenient for transporting or serving. At one time, it was common to find a six pack, six cans, connected with a six-pack plastic ring or yoke. It is more common now days to find cans packaged in larger numbers such as 12, 24, or 30 cans within a sealed paperboard carton.
Unfortunately after the beverage can is removed from the box or the plastic yoke and the beverage consumed, the desire and the ability to bundle the empty containers is lost. While approximately a dozen states have bottle laws that incentivize the proper disposal of cans, it does not facilitate the bundling of cans together for transportation.
SUMMARYIn contrast to the conventional beverage cans, the can of the instant invention has several features that allow grouping of cans together for delivery to a proper disposal location. In addition, these features allow for other uses of cans as described below.
In an embodiment of a container, the container has an outer surface including having a bottom surface and a top surface. The bottom surface is capable of engaging the top surface of another container for stacking the containers. The container has a connection mechanism having a pair of complementary components carried by the outer surface of the container wherein one of the pair of complementary components carried by the container engages the other of the pair of complementary components by another container for securing the containers together.
In an embodiment, the connection mechanisms are dis-engageable for separating the containers. In an embodiment, the container is a cylindrical container having a top and a bottom and a cylindrical side wall.
In an embodiment, the connection mechanism has a pair of complementary components. One of the complementary components is carried by the top and the other of the complementary components is carried by the bottom wherein the complementary components engage each other for allowing the secure stacking of containers. In one embodiment, the pair of complementary components are a plurality of dimples and complementary protrusions.
In an embodiment, the top of the container has a generally planar portion which is parallel to a generally planar portion of the bottom and an annular ring having a radial facing inward surface. The radial facing inward surface has the plurality of dimples and the bottom has a bottom rim with a plurality of protrusions for acceptance in dimples carried on the top of another container.
In an embodiment, the pair of complementary components are a pair of threaded surfaces. In an embodiment, the pair of complementary components are a pair of interlocking hook segments.
In an embodiment, the container has a second connection mechanism having a plurality of complementary components carried by the generally cylindrical side wall wherein the complementary components engage each other to allow the secure connection of containers. In an embodiment, the plurality of complementary components of the second connection mechanism are dovetail components having at least one tenon and at least one complementary mortise.
In a method of practicing the invention to stack a plurality of cans, each can has an outer surface including a bottom surface and a top surface. The bottom surface is capable of engaging the top surface of another container for stacking the containers. The bottom of a can is placed into engagement with the top of another can such that a connection mechanism carried by the top of one can engages the complementary components carried by the bottom of the other can.
In one embodiment of the method, the top of the can has a generally planar portion which is parallel to a generally planar portion of the bottom. The top has an annular ring having a radial facing inward surface wherein the connection mechanism is a plurality of dimples and the bottom having an outer rim with the complementary component is a plurality of protrusions for acceptance in dimples carried on the top of another container wherein the can flexes to allow the protrusion to engage the dimples.
In an embodiment, the can is coupled to another a connection mechanism having a pair of complementary components carried by the outer surface of the container wherein one of the pair of complementary components carried by the container engages the other of the pair of complementary components by another container for securing the containers together.
In an embodiment, the cans are stacked such that an opening the size of a can or larger opening is found in the stacked cans.
These aspects of the invention are not meant to be exclusive and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art when read in conjunction with the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.
A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of its preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:
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The container 20 has a connection mechanism 34 having a pair of complementary components 34d and 34p. One of the complementary components 34d is carried on the inner surface 36 of the annular ring 30.
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While both the tenon and the mortise are shown extending the length of the maximum diameter of the container, it is recognized that the tenon or rail 54r can be of a short length or two or more segments.
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While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope of the invention. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A container comprising:
- an outer surface including having a bottom surface and a top surface, the bottom surface capable of engaging the top surface of another container for stacking the containers; and
- a connection mechanism having a pair of complementary components carried by the outer surface of the container wherein one of the pair of complementary components carried by the container engages the other of the pair of complementary components carried by another container for securing the containers together.
2. A container of claim 1 wherein the connection mechanisms are dis-engageable for separating the containers.
3. A container of claim 2 wherein the container is a cylindrical container having a top and a bottom and a cylindrical side wall.
4. A container of claim 3 wherein the connection mechanism having a pair of complementary components has one of the complementary components carried by the top and the other of the complementary components carried by the bottom wherein the complementary components engage each other for allowing the secure stacking of containers.
5. A container of claim 4 wherein the pair of complementary components are a plurality of dimples and a complementary protrusion.
6. A container of claim 2 wherein the top has a generally planar portion parallel to a generally planar portion of the bottom and an annular ring having a radial facing inward surface having the plurality of dimples and the bottom having a bottom rim with a plurality of protrusions for acceptance in dimples carried on the top of another container.
7. A container of claim 1 wherein the pair of complementary components are a pair of threaded surfaces.
8. A container of claim 1 wherein the pair of complementary components are a pair interlocking hook segments.
9. A container of claim 3 further comprises:
- a second connection mechanism having a plurality of complementary components carried by the generally cylindrical side wall wherein the complementary components engage each other for allowing the secure connection of containers.
10. A container of claim 9 wherein the plurality of complementary components of the second connection mechanism are dovetail components having at least one tenon and at least one complementary mortise.
11. A container of claim 10 wherein the connection mechanism having a pair of complementary components is one of the complementary components carried by the top and the other of the complementary components carried by the bottom wherein the complementary components engage each other for allowing the secure stacking of containers.
12. A container of claim 11 wherein the pair of complementary components are a plurality of dimples and complementary protrusions.
13. A container of claim 9 wherein the plurality of complementary components are at least one rail and at least one slot.
14. A method of stacking of cans comprising:
- providing a plurality of cans, each can having an outer surface including a bottom surface and a top surface, the bottom surface capable of engaging the top surface of another can for stacking the cans; and
- placing the bottom of a can into engagement with the top of another can such that a connection mechanism carried by the top of one can engages the complementary components carried by the bottom of the other can.
15. A method of claim 14 wherein the top of the can has a generally planar portion parallel to a generally planar portion of the bottom and an annular ring having a radial facing inward surface wherein the connection mechanism is a plurality of dimples and the bottom having an outer rim with the complementary components is a plurality of protrusions for acceptance in dimples carried on the top of another can wherein the can flexes to allow the protrusion to engage the dimples.
16. A method of claim 14 wherein the can is coupled to another connection mechanism having a pair of complementary components carried by the outer surface of the can wherein one of the pair of complementary components carried by the can engages the other of the pair of complementary components by another can for securing the cans together.
17. A method of claim 16 wherein the cans are stacked such that an opening the size of a can or larger is found within the stacked cans.
18. A container comprising:
- a cylindrical container having a top and a bottom and a cylindrical side wall, the container having an outer surface including having a bottom surface and a top surface, the bottom surface capable of engaging the top surface of another container for stacking the containers; and
- a connection mechanism having a pair of complementary components carried by the outer surface of the container wherein one of the pair of complementary components carried by the top engages the other of the pair of complementary components carried by the bottom of the another container for securing the containers together and the connection mechanisms are dis-engageable for separating the containers.
19. A container of claim 18 wherein the pair of complementary components are a plurality of dimples and complementary protrusions.
20. A container of claim 19 wherein the top has a generally planar portion parallel to a generally planar portion of the bottom and an annular ring having a radial facing inward surface having the plurality of dimples and the bottom having a bottom rim with a plurality of protrusions for acceptance in dimples carried on the top of another container.
21. A container of claim 20 further comprises:
- a second connection mechanism having a plurality of complementary components carried by the generally cylindrical side wall wherein the complementary components engage each other for allowing the secure connection of containers.
22. A container of claim 21 wherein the plurality of complementary components of the second connection mechanism are dovetail components having at least one tenon and at least one complementary mortise.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 13, 2010
Publication Date: Feb 16, 2012
Inventor: Michael G. O'Connell (Raynham, MA)
Application Number: 12/855,929
International Classification: B65D 21/02 (20060101);