MODULAR STORAGE CONTAINER SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

A modular storage container system includes a first container shell component having a base, a plurality of sidewalls extending around the base to define a storage chamber, an inner volume, and a flange extending around a top portion of the plurality of sidewalls. In addition, the system includes a peg and groove connector including a male part and a female part, the peg and groove connector symmetrically repeated around the flange and the base to form a plurality of connection sites. The included connection sites are useful for removably coupling the first container shell component with a second plurality of connection sites from a second container shell component. The modular storage container system allows a user to construct nestable storage configurations using a plurality of the included container shell components.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/407,793 filed Oct. 13, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of receptacles of existing art and more specifically relates to a modular storage container system.

RELATED ART

Small articles typically used at home or work are often received in packages unsuitable for storage. Such articles are loosely stored in draws or boxes, within which the article was purchased, that are not conducive to organized storage and do not provide easy access when the article is needed. Containers having partitioned sections and modular container units dimensioned for easy arrangement and use have proven to be effective in the organizing and storage of such loosely arranged articles. In particular, self-stacking plastic containers of varying styles and construction have proven to be effective in organizing and storing such articles as cosmetics, fishing lures, kitchen products, and food products.

Many people use multiple containers for storage and organizational purposes. These containers vary greatly in size and shape. Unfortunately, they may take up more room and allow less space to store items because of the way the containers may be constructed. A suitable solution is desired.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,925 to Thomas G. Petruzzi relates to an interlocking stackable container storage system. The described interlocking stackable container storage system includes a portable plastic container has a tapered tongue on a lid top wall arranged for positioning within a tapered groove of a similar container bottom wall for vertically stacking a selected quantity of containers in an interlocking arrangement. Interlocking the containers permits opening of any container without the need for rearranging and restacking. For interlocking one container to another, the bottom groove of one container is forced into the top tongue of a similar container. A snapping sound is heard as the tongue passes through a slightly smaller groove opening to its seated position within the groove, thus providing seating feedback and assurance to the user that the containers are properly interlocked.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known receptacle art, the present disclosure provides a novel modular storage container system. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a geometrically shaped interlocking and stackable container system that may be configured in a variety of arrangements.

A modular storage container system is disclosed herein. The modular storage container system may include a first container shell component having a base, a plurality of sidewalls extending around the base to define a storage chamber, an inner volume, and a flange extending around a top portion of the plurality of sidewalls. In addition, the system may include a peg and groove connector including a male part and a female part, the peg and groove connector symmetrically repeated around the flange and the base to form a plurality of connection sites. The included connection sites may be useful for removably coupling the first container shell component with a second plurality of connection sites from a second container shell component. The modular storage container system may allow a user to construct nestable storage configurations using a plurality of the included container shell components.

According to another embodiment, a method of using a modular storage container system is also disclosed herein. The method of using a modular storage container system may include providing a modular storage container system, placing an item for storage within a first container shell component, providing a second container shell component, and coupling the second container shell component with the first container shell component.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a modular storage container system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the modular storage container system during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a close-in view of the modular storage container system of FIG. 1 showing a first container shell component including a peg and groove connector, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the modular storage container system of FIG. 1 showing a plurality of container shell components arranged in a stackable configuration for displaying and storing items, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the modular storage container system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view the modular storage container system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using the modular storage container system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to receptacles and more particularly to a modular storage container system as used to provide a geometrically-shaped interlocking, nestable, and stackable container system that may be configured in a variety of arrangements.

Generally speaking, the modular storage container system provides an intelligent, interlocking, and stack-able container system for use in residential and commercial fields. The system may offer various geometrical shapes to accommodate any size wall space in a home, office, or business location. The system may also allow users to stack and connect the containers vertically and horizontally to display and store different types of products. The present invention may consume ninety-five percent of the intended applicable space and conserve ninety-three percent of storage and transportation space.

The modular storage container system may feature a plurality of special reversible and non-reversible tongue-and-groove or peg-and-groove connectors that allow the container shell components to attach horizontally, vertically, and at a variety of angles with each other. The components may also be inverted for removable coupling with other components and accessories. The system may be configured from lightweight materials including plastics, rubber, silicone, and light metals for durable use. The peg connectors included in the system may be configured as cylinders, cones, raised lines, and other shapes that allow for sturdy frictional retaining to occur. The components may include these connectors along the sides, front, back, bottom, and corners in order to provide as many configuration options as possible.

The container shell components may be inverted and paired together to form sealed enclosures for storing items. These sealed enclosures may then be combined with other sealed enclosures from the system to form rows, towers, or blocks of storage and display modules. The system may further include accessories and other module joints that allow a user to construct different designs and shapes with the shell components. The accessories may include flat top surfaces, braces, joint connectors, and other devices. The shell components may include a flange surrounding the top or bottom of each side walled containment unit. This flange may include a lip that allows for connections with peg and groove connectors from other components in the system. The shell components may also include apertures or vent patterns for storing specialty items like food or clothing.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4B, various views of a modular storage container system 100.

FIG. 1 shows a modular storage container system 100 during an ‘in-use’ condition 50, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, the modular storage container system 100 may be beneficial for use by a user to provide a geometrically-shaped interlocking, nestable, and stackable container system that may be configured in a variety of arrangements. As illustrated, the modular storage container system 100 may include a first container shell component 110 having a peg and groove connector 120 configured to form a plurality of connection sites 130. The modular storage container system 100 may also include a second container shell component 150. In combination, the first container shell component 110 and the second container shell component 150 may couple to form a first half 160 and a second half 161 of a geometrical shape 162 to completely enclose a stored item 10. This geometrical shape 162 may be configured to allow for repeated combinations and stacking or nesting of said combinations to form a plurality of storage and display options. Each first container shell component 110 may include at least one opening 170, where the at least one opening 170 may be repeated to form a vent pattern 171.

According to one embodiment, the modular storage container system 100 may be arranged as a kit 105. In particular, the modular storage container system 100 may further include a set of instructions 107. The instructions 107 may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of the modular storage container system 100 such that the modular storage container system 100 can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner.

FIG. 2 shows the modular storage container system 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the modular storage container system 100 may include a first container shell component 110 having a base 111, a plurality of sidewalls 112 extending around the base 111, and a flange 115 extending around a top portion 116 of the plurality of sidewalls 112. The first container shell component 110 may also include a peg and groove connector 120 having a male part 121 and a female part 122. In the present embodiment, the peg and groove connector 120 may be symmetrically repeated around the flange 115 to provide multiple interlocking combinations between components of the modular storage container system 100.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the modular storage container system 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the modular storage container system 100 may include a first container shell component 110 configured to define a storage chamber 113 and an inner volume 114 for storing items. Each of the first container shell components 110 may include a peg and groove connector 120 for coupling with other components in the modular storage container system 100. The modular storage container system 100 may also feature an auxiliary attachment 140 that includes a peg and groove connector 120 for coupling with at least one container shell component 110.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the modular storage container system 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Again, the modular storage container system 100 may include a peg and groove connector 120 having a male part 121 and a female part 122. The male parts 121 and female parts 122 in the modular storage container system 100 may be configured in a plurality of frictionally-coupling shapes including cylinders, cones, and tongue-and-groove lines with matching recesses.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using 500 a modular storage container system 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method of using 500 a modular storage container system 100 may include one or more components or features of the modular storage container system 100 as described above. As illustrated, the method of using 500 a modular storage container system 100 may include the steps of: step one 501, providing a modular storage container system 100 including a first container shell component 110 having a base 111, a plurality of sidewalls 112 extending around the base 111 to define a storage chamber 113, an inner volume 114, and a flange 115 extending around a top portion 116 of the plurality of sidewalls 112 and a peg and groove connector 120 including a male part 121 and a female part 122, the peg and groove connector 120 symmetrically repeated around the flange 115 and the base 111 to form a plurality of connection sites 130; step two 502, placing an item for storage within a first container shell component 110; step three 503, providing a second container shell component 150; and step four 504, coupling the second container shell component 150 with the first container shell component 110.

Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in FIG. 5 so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method of use 500. It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for the modular storage container system 100 are taught herein.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.

Claims

1. A modular storage container system comprising:

a first container shell component having a base, a plurality of sidewalls extending around the base to define a storage chamber, an inner volume, and a flange extending around a top portion of the plurality of sidewalls; and

a peg and groove connector including a male part and a female part, the peg and groove connector symmetrically repeated around the flange and the base to form a plurality of connection sites; and

wherein the plurality of connection sites of the first container shell component are configured to removably couple with a second plurality of connection sites from a second container shell component.

2. The modular storage container system of claim 1, wherein the first container shell component and the second container shell component couple to form a first half and a second half of a geometrical shape.

3. The modular storage container system of claim 2, wherein the geometrical shape is configured to completely enclose a stored item.

4. The modular storage container system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sidewalls includes at least one opening.

5. The modular storage container system of claim 4, wherein the at least one opening is repeated to form a vent pattern.

6. The modular storage container system of claim 1, wherein the second container shell component is stackable within the first container shell component.

7. The modular storage container system of claim 1, wherein the male part of the peg and groove connector is cylindrically shaped.

8. The modular storage container system of claim 1, wherein the male part of the peg and groove connector is conically shaped.

9. The modular storage container system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connection sites is configured for horizontal coupling.

10. The modular storage container system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connection sites is configured for vertical coupling.

11. The modular storage container system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connection sites is configured for inverted coupling between the first container shell component and the second container shell component.

12. The modular storage container system of claim 1, wherein the first container shell component is semi-rigid.

13. The modular storage container system of claim 1, wherein the first container shell component is configured as a single contiguous piece.

14. The modular storage container system of claim 1, wherein the first container shell component comprises plastic.

15. The modular storage container system of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary attachment.

16. The modular storage container system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary attachment includes a peg and groove connector for coupling with at least one container shell component.

17. A modular storage container system comprising:

a first container shell component having a base, a plurality of sidewalls extending around the base to define a storage chamber, an inner volume, and a flange extending around a top portion of the plurality of sidewalls; and

a peg and groove connector including a male part and a female part, the peg and groove connector symmetrically repeated around the flange and the base to form a plurality of connection sites;

further comprising an auxiliary attachment;

wherein the plurality of connection sites of the first container shell component are configured to removably couple with a second plurality of connection sites from a second container shell component;

wherein the first container shell component and the second container shell component couple to form a first half and a second half of a geometrical shape;

wherein the geometrical shape is configured to completely enclose a stored item;

wherein the plurality of sidewalls includes at least one opening;

wherein the at least one opening is repeated to form a vent pattern;

wherein the second container shell component is stackable within the first container shell component;

wherein the male part of the peg and groove connector is cylindrically shaped;

wherein the plurality of connection sites is configured for horizontal coupling and alternately for vertical coupling;

wherein the plurality of connection sites is configured for inverted coupling between the first container shell component and the second container shell component;

wherein the first container shell component is semi-rigid;

wherein the first container shell component is configured as a single contiguous piece;

wherein the first container shell component comprises plastic; and

wherein the auxiliary attachment includes a peg and groove connector for coupling with at least one container shell component.

18. The modular storage container system of claim 17, further comprising set of instructions; and

wherein the system is arranged as a kit.

19. A method of using a modular storage container system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a modular storage container system including a first container shell component having a base, a plurality of sidewalls extending around the base to define a storage chamber, an inner volume, and a flange extending around a top portion of the plurality of sidewalls and a peg and groove connector including a male part and a female part, the peg and groove connector symmetrically repeated around the flange and the base to form a plurality of connection sites;

placing an item for storage within a first container shell component;

providing a second container shell component; and

coupling the second container shell component with the first container shell component.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

uncoupling the second container shell component from the first container shell component; and

stacking the second container shell component within the first container shell component.