NESTABLE COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS

Abstract

A set of one-piece containers constructed so that each of the containers has a peripheral side wall which is arranged to permit movement of each container from an extended position to a collapsed position by reason of a telescoping relationship between the various sections of the peripheral side wall. The set of containers is constructed so that the outermost and innermost dimensions of the peripheral side walls are such that, in the collapsed position, the containers are nestable one within another to provide for low-volume storage of the entire set of containers between uses.

Description

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to sets of reusable and re-collapsible one-piece containers and caps of the same general appearance, which are nestable one within another to provide for low-volume storage of the entire set of containers between uses.

Collapsible containers are, of course, well known. For example, in applicant's own prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,384,138; 5,392,941; 5,417,377; 5,533,638; and 5,575,398 show collapsible, thin wall, plastic containers having a closed end, an annular peripheral side wall and an open end, the peripheral side wall including a plurality of annular steps or shoulders for enabling controlled axial collapse of the container to a compact, collapsed condition wherein at least one fold of the side wall surround a remaining un-collapsed portion of the container, and a removable cap is securable to the open end. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,138, the cap is disclosed to include a further container or chamber of an entirely different structure for holding, for example, a foodstuff.

Nesting sets of similar containers are also well known. For example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,951,832; 5,769,229; and 6,796,430 as well as U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0070907 show a set of graduated containers, with each container having a lid that may be placed on top to seal its respective container. The lids may be attached to the bottom in order that a smaller container with lid attached may be nested in the next larger container for convenient storage without loss or misplacing the lid. However, none of the containers are shown to be collapsible, and thus the nested set of containers shown in these patents necessarily occupies the space of the largest container.

What is needed is a set of reusable and re-collapsible, one-piece containers having the same general appearance which are nestable one within another to provide for low-volume storage of the entire set of containers between uses.

SUMMARY

A set of one-piece containers can be constructed so that each of the containers has a peripheral side wall which is arranged to permit movement of each container from an extended position to a collapsed position by reason of a telescoping relationship between the various sections of the peripheral side wall. The set of containers can be constructed so that the outermost and innermost dimensions of the peripheral side walls are such that, in the collapsed position, the containers are nestable one within another to provide for low-volume storage of the entire set of containers between uses. The containers can be molded from a variety of plastics to have the structural features and flexibility necessary to move between the collapsed and the extended positions.

In a preferred embodiment the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers can include a lowermost portion, an uppermost portion and an intermediate portion. The uppermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers can include an upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved portion that provides a good gripping surface to facilitate collapse of each container. The uppermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers can also include a downwardly facing and radially inwardly curved portion that provides a good gripping surface to facilitate extension of each container. A junction of the upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved portion and the downwardly facing and radially inwardly curved portion of each of the set of one-piece containers can form a ridge, which is preferably smoothly rounded, defining the outermost dimension of the peripheral side wall. The configuration of the uppermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers remains substantially unchanged between the extended and collapsed position of each of the containers.

The lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers can have an upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved surface that extends downwardly substantially to a smooth heel joining the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall to the bottom wall. The upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved surface of the lowermost portion of each of the set of one-piece containers provides a good gripping surface to facilitate extension of each container. An additional inwardly curved gripping area can be included in the heel portion joining the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall to the bottom wall to facilitate the extension of one or more of the container from the collapsed position to the extended position. The configuration of the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers remains substantially unchanged between the extended and collapsed position of each of the containers.

The intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers joins the uppermost portion to the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers. A first circumferential transitional step joins an upper margin of the intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall to a lower margin of the uppermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers. Similarly, a second circumferential transitional step joins a lower margin of the intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall to an upper margin of the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers. The first circumferential transitional step of each of the set of one-piece containers has a diameter that is greater than the second circumferential transitional step of the same container so that, when in the extended position, the intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers can form a downwardly facing and radially inwardly curved surface.

In the collapsed position, the intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers is inverted and situated radially between uppermost and the lowermost portions of the peripheral side wall of the same container. In the collapsed position, the first circumferential transitional step of each of the set of one-piece containers can be positioned at about an upper margin of the heel portion of the same container, while the intermediate portion curves upwardly and inwardly to the second circumferential transitional step at the upper margin of the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall. An inner surface of the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers defines a minimum internal diameter for each container. The diameter of the ridge defining the outermost dimension of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers can be sized to be no greater than the minimum internal diameter of the next larger container in the set of one-piece collapsible containers so that the containers are nestable one within another to provide for low-volume storage of the entire set of containers between uses.

Other features of the present set of one-piece containers and the corresponding advantages of those features will be come apparent from the following discussion of a preferred embodiment, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a side elevation view of a first container of the set in an extended position.

FIG. 1B is a side elevation view of a second container of the set in an extended position.

FIG. 1C is a side elevation view of a third container of the set in an extended position.

FIG. 2A is a side elevation view of the first container of the set in a collapsed position.

FIG. 2B is a side elevation view of the second container of the set in a collapsed position.

FIG. 2C is a side elevation view of the third container of the set in a collapsed position.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the set of containers in the collapsed position with accompanying lids and ready for nesting one with another.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the nested set of containers with the containers being in the collapsed position.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of one of the containers.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A set of one-piece containers 10 is shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C. The set can be constructed so that the peripheral side wall 12 of each of the set of one-piece containers can include a lowermost portion 14, an uppermost portion 16 and an intermediate portion 18. The uppermost portion 16 of the peripheral side wall 12 of each of the set of one-piece containers can include an upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved portion 20 that provides a good gripping surface to facilitate collapse of each container 10. The uppermost portion 16 of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers can also include a downwardly facing and radially inwardly curved portion 22 that provides a good gripping surface to facilitate extension of each container 10. A junction of the upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved portion 20 and the downwardly facing and radially inwardly curved portion 22 of each of the set of one-piece containers 10 can form a ridge 24, which is preferably smoothly rounded, defining the outermost dimension of the peripheral side wall 12. The configuration of the uppermost portion 16 of the peripheral side wall 12 of each of the set of one-piece containers 10 remains substantially unchanged between the extended, shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, and a collapsed position of each of the containers shown in FIGS. 2A-2C.

The set of one-piece containers 10 can also be constructed so that a lowermost portion 14 of the peripheral side wall 12 of each of the set of one-piece containers 10 can have an upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved surface 28 that extends downwardly substantially to a smooth heel 30 joining the lowermost portion 14 of the peripheral side wall to a bottom wall 32. The upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved surface 28 of the lowermost portion 14 of each of the set of one-piece containers provides a good gripping surface to facilitate extension of each container 10 from the configuration shown in FIGS. 2A-2C to the configuration shown in FIGS. 1A-1C. An additional inwardly curved gripping area 34 can be included in the heel portion 30 joining the lowermost portion 14 of the peripheral side wall to the bottom wall 32 to facilitate the extension of one or more of the container set from the collapsed position to the extended position. The configuration of the lowermost portion 14 of the peripheral side wall 12 of each of the set of one-piece containers remains substantially unchanged between the extended and collapsed position of each of the containers 10.

The set of one-piece containers 10 can also be constructed so that the intermediate portion 18 of the peripheral side wall 12 of each of the set of one-piece containers 10 joins the uppermost portion 16 to the lowermost portion 16 of the peripheral side wall 12 of each of the set of one-piece containers 10. A first circumferential transitional step 38 joins an upper margin of the intermediate portion 18 of the peripheral side wall to a lower margin of the uppermost portion 16 of the peripheral side wall 12 of each of the set of one-piece containers 10. Similarly, a second circumferential transitional step 40 joins a lower margin of the intermediate portion 18 of the peripheral side wall to an upper margin of the lowermost portion 14 of the peripheral side wall 12 of each of the set of one-piece containers 10. The first circumferential transitional step 38 of each of the set of one-piece containers 10 has a diameter that is greater than the second circumferential transitional step 40 of the same container so that, when in the extended position, the intermediate portion 18 of the peripheral side wall 12 of each of the set of one-piece containers 10 can form a downwardly facing and radially inwardly curved surface 42.

In the collapsed position shown in FIGS. 2A-2C and in FIG. 4, the intermediate portion 18 of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers is inverted and situated radially between uppermost 16 and the lowermost portions 14 of the peripheral side wall of the same container 10.

In the collapsed position, the first circumferential transitional step 38 of each of the set of one-piece containers 10 can be positioned at about an upper margin of the heel portion 30 of the same container, while the intermediate portion 18 curves upwardly and inwardly to the second circumferential transitional step 40 at the upper margin of the lowermost portion 14 of the peripheral side wall. As shown in FIG. 4, an inner surface 44 of the lowermost portion 14 of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers 10 defines a minimum internal diameter for each container 10. The diameter of the ridge 24 defining the outermost dimension of the peripheral side wall 12 of each of the set of one-piece containers 10 can be sized to be no greater than the minimum internal diameter of the next larger container in the set of one-piece collapsible containers so that the containers are nestable one within another, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, to provide for low-volume storage of the entire set of containers 10 between uses.

Each container 10 of the set preferably includes an annular rim 46 defining an opening into the container 10, the annular rim being adapted for engagement with a lid 48 to close the container 10. The engaging feature can take the form of a screw thread, a bayonet connection, or other similar feature that will permit the lid 48 to be removed and re-applied to the container 10. A maximum volume of the containers 10 of the set shown in the drawings can be, for example, 2-cups, 3.5-cups, and 6-cups, but other maximum volumes are also possible. A maximum diameter for the ridge 24 of such a set of containers 10 can be, for example, 3.84 in., 4.63 in., and 5.44 in., respectively, but other maximum diameters are also possible. When in the extended position, the vertical dimension of such a set of containers 10, measured from the bottom wall 32 to the annular rim 46, can be, for example, 4.20 in., 4.94 in., and 5.65 in., respectively, but other vertical dimensions are also possible. While the set of containers 10 is illustrated to be a set of three containers, the set can consist of at least two containers, and may consist of up to six or more containers.

While these features have been disclosed in connection with the illustrated preferred embodiment, other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art that come within the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A set of one-piece containers, each container comprising a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall extending upward from the bottom wall, the side wall including an annular rim defining an opening into the container, the annular rim being adapted for engagement with a lid to close the container, the peripheral side wall being arranged to include three portions adapted to permit movement of each container of the set from an extended position to a collapsed position by reason of a folding, telescoping movement between the various sections of the peripheral side wall, the side wall having in the collapsed position an outermost side wall dimension and an innermost side wall dimension, the outermost and innermost dimensions of the peripheral side walls being dimensioned such that, in the collapsed position, the containers of the set are nestable one within another to provide for low-volume storage of the entire set of containers between uses.

2. The set of one-piece containers of claim 1, wherein the three portions of the peripheral side wall consist essentially of an uppermost portion, a lowermost portion, an intermediate portion joining the uppermost and lowermost portions, with a smooth heel joining the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall to the bottom wall.

3. The set of one-piece containers of claim 2, wherein the smooth heel joining the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall to the bottom wall of at least one of the set of containers further comprises additional inwardly curved gripping area to facilitate the extension of the at least one of the containers from the collapsed position to the extended position.

4. The set of one-piece containers of claim 2, wherein the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers has an upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved surface that extends downwardly to the smooth heel.

5. The set of one-piece containers of claim 2, wherein the uppermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers includes an upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved portion, a downwardly facing and radially inwardly curved portion, and a junction of the upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved portion and the downwardly facing and radially inwardly curved portion of each of the set of one-piece containers form a smoothly rounded ridge defining the outermost dimension of the peripheral side wall.

6. The set of one-piece containers of claim 2, further comprising a first circumferential transitional step joining an upper margin of the intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall to a lower margin of the uppermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers, a second circumferential transitional step joining a lower margin of the intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall to an upper margin of the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers, the first circumferential transitional step of each of the set of one-piece containers having a diameter that is greater than the second circumferential transitional step of the same container so that, when in the extended position, the intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers forms a downwardly facing and radially inwardly curved surface.

7. The set of one-piece containers of claim 6, where in the collapsed position, the intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers is inverted and situated radially between uppermost and the lowermost portions of the peripheral side wall of the same container, the first circumferential transitional step of each of the set of one-piece containers is positioned at about an upper margin of the heel portion of the same container, while the intermediate portion curves upwardly and inwardly to the second circumferential transitional step at the upper margin of the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall, and an inner surface of the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers defines a minimum internal diameter for each container, the diameter of the ridge defining the outermost dimension of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers being sized to be no greater than the minimum internal diameter of the next larger container in the set of one-piece collapsible containers.

8. A set of one-piece containers, each container comprising a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall extending upward from the bottom wall, the side wall including an annular rim defining an opening into the container, the annular rim being adapted for engagement with a lid to close the container, the peripheral side wall being arranged to include three portions adapted to permit movement of each container of the set from an extended position to a collapsed position by reason of a folding, telescoping movement between the various sections of the peripheral side wall, an uppermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers includes an upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved portion facilitating collapse of each container, a downwardly facing and radially inwardly curved portion facilitation extension of each container, and a junction of the upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved portion and the downwardly facing and radially inwardly curved portion of each of the set of one-piece containers forming a smoothly rounded ridge defining the outermost dimension of the peripheral side wall, the side wall having in the collapsed position an innermost side wall dimension, the outermost and innermost dimensions of the peripheral side walls being dimensioned such that, in the collapsed position, the containers of the set are nestable one within another to provide for low-volume storage of the entire set of containers between uses.

9. The set of one-piece containers of claim 8, wherein a lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall includes an upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved surface that extends downwardly to a smooth heel joining the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall to the bottom wall, and an inwardly curved gripping area to facilitate the extension of the at least one of the containers from the collapsed position to the extended position.

10. The set of one-piece containers of claim 9, wherein the peripheral side wall of each of the set of containers includes an intermediate portion situated between the uppermost portion and the lowermost portion, and in the extended position a first circumferential transitional step joining an upper margin of the intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall to a lower margin of the uppermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers, a second circumferential transitional step joining a lower margin of the intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall to an upper margin of the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers, the first circumferential transitional step of each of the set of one-piece containers having a diameter that is greater than the second circumferential transitional step of the same container.

11. The set of one-piece containers of claim 10, where in the collapsed position, the intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers is inverted and situated radially between uppermost and the lowermost portions of the peripheral side wall of the same container, the first circumferential transitional step of each of the set of one-piece containers is positioned at about an upper margin of the heel portion of the same container, while the intermediate portion curves upwardly and inwardly to the second circumferential transitional step at the upper margin of the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall, and an inner surface of the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers defines a minimum internal diameter for each container, the diameter of the ridge defining the outermost dimension of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers being sized to be no greater than the minimum internal diameter of the next larger container in the set of one-piece collapsible containers.