MULTI-CONTAINER SYSTEM
A multi-container system having an outer container and an inner container. The outer container may at least partly define a hole extending entirely though the outer container, with the outer container at least partly surrounds the hole. The inner container may fit into and be received by the hole. The multi-container system may be shiftable between an assembled configuration, where the inner container is received and held within the hole, and a disassembled configuration, where the inner and outer containers are decoupled and separated from one another.
This application claims priority benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/658,694, filed Jun. 12, 2012, entitled “Multi-Container System,” incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUNDWhen storing various flowable materials, such as liquids or pourable solids, multiple separate containers may be used. For example, a carton of milk and a box of cereal or a bag of dog food and a jug of water. However, carrying and storing these multiple separate containers may not be very convenient or may require an additional container into which both of the containers may be placed, such as a box or a bag.
Furthermore, when storing a plurality of liquids required to be mixed to form a desired concoction, such as a mixed alcoholic beverage, multiple separate containers may be used to hold the different liquids, such as orange juice and vodka. In addition to the separate containers, separate measuring containers or measuring cups may be required so that the liquids may be measured out and added to another empty container in desired quantities to create the desired concoction.
Therefore, there is a need for a storage system allowing storage of a plurality of flowable materials without requiring the additional containers described above.
SUMMARYEmbodiments of the present invention solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a distinct advance in the art of storing multiple types of flowable material. Some embodiments of the invention may include a multi-container system having an outer container and an inner container. The outer container may at least partly define a hole extending entirely though the outer container, with the outer container at least partly surrounding the hole. The inner container may be received in the hole. The multi-container system may be shiftable between assembled and disassembled configurations. In the assembled configuration, the inner container is received and held within the hole, and in the disassembled configuration, the inner and outer containers are decoupled and separated from one another.
In another embodiment of the invention, a multi-container system may include an outer container and an inner container. The outer container may present an inner wall at least partly defining a hole extending entirely though the outer container, with the outer container at least partly surround the hole. The outer container may also have at least one internal chamber having a closable opening for receiving and discharging a flowable material into and out of the internal chamber. The inner container may present an outer wall having substantially the same shape as the hole. The multi-container system may be shiftable between assembled and disassembled configurations. In the assembled configuration, the inner container is received and held within the hole, and in the disassembled configuration, the inner and outer containers are decoupled and separated from one another. The inner container may fit snugly within the hole and the inner and outer walls may be adjacent to one another when the multi-container system is in the assembled configuration. Additionally, one of the inner and outer walls may present one or more protrusions and the other of the inner and outer walls may present one or more recesses, such that at least one of the protrusions is received in at least one of the recesses when the multi-container system is in the assembled configuration.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, a method of operating a multi-container system may include shifting the multi-container system from an assembled configuration to a disassembled configuration. The multi-container system may have first and second containers and the first container may have a hole extending entirely therethrough. The second container may be received and held in the hole when the multi-container system is in the assembled configuration and may be removed from the hole when the multi-container system is in the disassembled configuration. The method may further include dispensing a flowable material from one of the first or second containers into the other of the first or second containers while the multi-container system is in the disassembled configuration. Additionally or alternatively, the method may include dispensing the contents of both of the first and second containers while the multi-container system is in the disassembled configuration.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.
Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:
The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe following detailed description of embodiments of the invention is intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is defined only by claims presented in subsequent regular utility applications, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
In this description, references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, step, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the present technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.
As illustrated in
The outer container 12 may comprise an elongated curved bottle and may present an inner wall 18 defining the hole 16, as illustrated in
The outer container 12 may extend fully or partially around the hole 16. For example, the outer container 12 may extend around the hole 16 through an angle of extension that is at least 180 degrees, 210 degrees, 240 degrees, 270 degrees, 300 degrees, or 330 degrees measured from a geometric center 21 of the hole 16. The geometric center 21 of the hole 16 and example angles of extension 40,42 are labeled in
The inner container 14 may present an outer wall 22 with an outer surface having substantially the same shape as the hole 16 or the inner wall 18 of the outer container 12, as illustrated in
In some embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in
The inner container 14 may be configured to hold at least 2, 4, 6, 8, or 12 fluid ounces and/or not more than 64, 48, 32, 24, or 16 fluid ounces. The ratio of the internal volume of the outer container 12 to the internal volume of the inner container 14 may be at least 0.1:1, 0.5:1, 1:1, or 1.5:1 and/or not more than 10:1, 5:1, 2:1, or 1:1.
The inner wall 18 of the outer container 12 and the outer wall 22 of the inner container 14 may be adjacent to one another when the multi-container system 10 is in the assembled configuration and may be configured to snap together or otherwise interlock with each other. In some embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in
The protrusions 28 may comprise a single unitary continuous protrusion extending entirely around the geometric center 21 of the hole 16 when the multi-container system 10 is in the assembled configuration. Likewise, the recesses 30 may be a single unitary continuous recess extending entirely around the geometric center 21 of the hole 16 when the multi-container system 10 is in the assembled configuration. Alternatively, the protrusions 28 may comprise a plurality of protrusions spaced around the geometric center 21 of the hole 16 when the multi-container system 10 is in the assembled configuration. Likewise, the recesses 30 may comprise a plurality of recesses or channels spaced around the geometric center 21 of the hole 16 when the multi-container system 10 is in the assembled configuration. For example, protrusions extending from the bowl 24 in
The recesses 30 and protrusions 28 may be configured to provide a releasable snap-fit connection between the outer container 12 and inner container 14 when the multi-container system 10 is in the assembled configuration. The multi-container system 10 may be configured to be shifted from the assembled configuration to the disassembled configuration by applying a force sufficient to overcome the snap-fit connection between the outer and inner containers 12,14. The outer and inner containers 12,14 may be configured to be shifted between the assembled and disassembled configurations without rotating the outer and inner containers 12,14 relative to one another, such that no action other than application of a linear force to the outer and/or inner containers 12,14 is required to shift the multi-container system 10 between the assembled and the disassemble configuration. In some embodiments of the invention, an applied force exceeding gravitation force may be required to shift the multi-container system 10 from the assembled configuration into the disassembled configuration and/or from the disassembled configuration into the assembled configuration.
The multi-container system 10 may be capable of being shifted back-and-forth between the assembled and disassembled configurations at least 100 times without damage or repair to the multi-container system 10. Additionally, in some embodiments of the invention, the multi-container system 10 may be capable of being shifted back-and-forth between the assembled and disassembled configurations at least 1,000, 10,000, or 100,000 times without damage or repair to the multi-container system 10.
In various embodiments of the invention, the multi-container system 10 may comprise and/or function as a container for one or more edible products and/or one or more non-edible products. The edible product or products may be received in the outer and/or inner containers 12,14, and the non-edible products may be received in the outer and/or inner containers 12,14. The edible product may be a liquid, such as water, milk, juice, tea, soda, and/or an alcoholic beverage, or the edible product may be a solid, such as a cereal, a sweet snack, a salty snack, a meat, a cheese, and/or a cookie. Alternatively, the multi-container system 10 can contain at least one non-edible product.
In some embodiments of the invention, the multi-container system 10 may comprise and/or function as a container for at least two different edible products. At least one of the edible products may be received in the outer container 12 and another of the edible products may be received in the inner container 14. In some embodiments of the invention, the multi-container system 10 may comprise at least three different edible products, with at least two of the edible products being received in the outer container 12. In some embodiments of the invention, the non-edible product or products may be received in the inner container 14.
Example EmbodimentsIn some embodiments of the invention, the outer container 12 may be a continuous chamber extending entirely around the hole 16, as in
In other embodiments of the invention, the outer container 12 may be a C-shaped outer container extending only partially around the hole 16, as illustrated in
Alternatively, as illustrated in
In yet another embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in
In other alternative embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in
Each of the distinct internal chambers 32a,32b may have substantially the same volume, as illustrated in
In some embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in
In other embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in
Specifically, as illustrated in
In use, the multi-container system 10 may be selectively placed in the assembled configuration and in the disassembled configuration manually by a user. For example, to place the multi-container system 10 in the assembled configuration, the user may align the inner container 14 with the hole 16 and press the inner container 14 into the hole 16 until the protrusions 28 and recesses 30 mate to form a snap-fit between the inner container 14 and the outer container 12. To place the multi-container system 10 in the disassembled configuration, the user may press a back side of the inner container 14 in a direction away from the outer container 12 and/or pull the inner container 14 in a direction away from the outer container 12 until the protrusions 28 and recesses 30 disengage from each other.
As described above, a plurality of methods of opening the outer and inner containers 12,14 may be used, depending on the design of the multi-container system 10. For example, the flowable material in the outer container 12 may be accessed via the closable opening by unscrewing the threaded cap from the threaded outlet. The flowable material or product stored within the inner container 14 may be accessed by peeling away the sealing member 26, such as a single-use sheet adhered to the rim of the bowl 24.
For example, the multi-use container system 10 may be purchased in the assembled configuration illustrated in
Finally, the multi-container system 10 may be shifted back to the assembled configuration by placing the inner container 14 into the hole 16 and pressing the inner container 14 toward the geometric center 21 of the hole such that the inner container 14 snaps together with the outer container 12. Specifically, the user may press a back side of the outer container 12 in a direction toward from the inner container 14 and/or push a top or front side of the inner container 14 in a direction toward the outer container 12 until the protrusions 28 and recesses 30 engage with each other, snap fitting the outer and inner containers 12,14 together.
Although the invention has been described with reference to the particular embodiments, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A multi-container system comprising:
- an outer container at least partly defining a hole extending entirely though said outer container, wherein said outer container at least partly surrounds said hole; and
- an inner container configured for receipt in said hole,
- wherein said multi-container system is shiftable between an assembled configuration where said inner container is received and held within said hole and a disassembled configuration where said inner and outer containers are decoupled and separated from one another.
2. The multi-container system of claim 1, wherein said outer container comprises an elongated curved bottle.
3. The multi-container system of claim 2, wherein said elongated curved bottle has an arcuate axis of elongation, a generally circular shape, a generally rectangular shape with rounded corners, or a generally square shape with rounded corners.
4. The multi-container system of claim 1, wherein said outer container extends around said hole through an angle of extension that is at least 180 degrees measured from the geometric center of said hole.
5. The multi-container system of claim 1, wherein said inner container presents an outer surface having substantially the same shape as said hole.
6. The multi-container system of claim 1, wherein said inner container fits snugly within said hole when said multi-container system is in said assembled configuration.
7. The multi-container system of claim 1, wherein an applied force exceeding gravitation force is required to shift said multi-container system from said assemble configuration into said disassembled configuration, and an applied force exceeding gravitation force is required to shift said multi-container system from said disassembled configuration into said assembled configuration.
8. The multi-container system of claim 1, wherein no action other than application of a linear force to said inner and/or outer containers is required to shift said multi-container system between said assembled and said disassemble configuration.
9. The multi-container system of claim 1, wherein said outer member presents an inner wall defining said hole, wherein said inner member presents an outer wall, wherein said inner and outer walls are adjacent to one another when said multi-container system is in said assembled configuration, wherein one of said inner and outer walls presents one or more protrusions, wherein the other of said inner and outer walls presents one or more recesses, wherein at least one of said protrusions is received in at least one of said recesses when said multi-container system is in said assembled configuration.
10. The multi-container system of claim 1, wherein said outer container defines at least two distinct internal chambers, each having a closable opening for receiving and discharging a flowable material into and out of said internal chambers.
11. The multi-container system of claim 1, wherein said outer container defines at least three distinct internal chambers, each having a closable opening for receiving and discharging a flowable material into and out of said internal chambers.
12. The multi-container system of claim 1, wherein said outer container comprises an interior section and an exterior section, wherein said interior section is disposed generally between said exterior section and said hole, wherein said interior and exterior sections define respective interior and exterior chambers, wherein said interior and exterior sections comprise respective interior and exterior closable openings for receiving and discharging flowable materials into and out of said interior and exterior chambers.
13. A multi-container system comprising:
- an outer container presenting an inner wall at least partly defining a hole extending entirely though said outer container, wherein said outer container at least partly surrounds said hole, wherein the outer container comprises at least one internal chamber having a closable opening for receiving and discharging a flowable material into and out of said internal chamber; and
- an inner container presenting an outer wall having substantially the same shape as said hole,
- wherein said multi-container system is shiftable between an assembled configuration where said inner container is received and held within said hole and a disassembled configuration where said inner and outer containers are decoupled and separated from one another,
- wherein said inner container fits snugly within said hole when said multi-container system is in said assembled configuration,
- wherein said inner and outer walls are adjacent to one another when said multi-container system is in said assembled configuration,
- wherein one of said inner and outer walls presents one or more protrusions,
- wherein the other of said inner and outer walls presents one or more recesses,
- wherein at least one of said protrusions is received in at least one of said recesses when said multi-container system is in said assembled configuration.
14. The multi-container system of claim 13, wherein said outer container comprises an elongated curved bottle having an arcuate axis of elongation, a generally circular shape, a generally rectangular shape with rounded corners, or a generally square shape with rounded corners.
15. The multi-container system of claim 13, wherein said inner container is at least one of a bowl, a clam shell, a resealable plastic container, a plastic container having a single-use sheet adhered to a rim thereof, and a lunch pack.
16. The multi-container system of claim 13, wherein said outer container defines at least two distinct internal chambers, each having a closable opening for receiving and discharging a flowable material into and out of said internal chambers.
17. The multi-container system of claim 13, wherein said outer container comprises an interior section and an exterior section, wherein said interior section is disposed generally between said exterior section and said hole, wherein said interior section defines an interior chamber and said exterior section defines at least one exterior chamber, wherein said interior and exterior sections comprise respective interior and exterior closable openings for receiving and discharging flowable materials into and out of said interior and exterior chambers.
18. The multi-container system of claim 13, wherein the ratio of the internal volume of said outer container to the internal volume of said inner container is at least 0.1:1 and not more than 10:1.
19. A method of operating a multi-container system, said method comprising:
- (a) shifting the multi-container system comprising first and second containers from an assembled configuration to a disassembled configuration, wherein said first container comprises a hole extending entirely therethrough, wherein said second container is received and held in said hole when said multi-container system is in the assembled configuration and is removed from said hole when said multi-container system is in said disassembled configuration; and
- (b) while said multi-container system is in said disassembled configuration— (i) dispensing a flowable material from one of said first or second containers into the other of said first or second containers or (ii) dispensing the contents of both of said first and second containers.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising, subsequent to step (b), shifting said multi-container system from said disassembled configuration to said assembled configuration.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein said shifting to said assembled configured comprises snap fitting said second container with said first container by engaging snap fit features of the first and second containers with each other.
22. The method of claim 19, wherein step (b) includes dispensing a flowable material from said first container into said second container.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein said flowable material is a liquid and said second container is a bowl.
24. The method of claim 22, further comprising, prior to step (b), removing a lid from said second container.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein step (b) includes dispensing the contents of both said first and second containers into a common receptacle.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 11, 2013
Publication Date: Dec 12, 2013
Inventors: Paul E. Skelton (Kansas City, MO), Bruce A. Wardlow (Lee's Summit, MO)
Application Number: 13/915,154
International Classification: A45C 11/20 (20060101);