Abstract: A carrier for containers, such as bottles, the carrier being made of plastic, being nestable with identical carriers when empty and being formed to be stacked, when filled, with other filled carriers in a manner such that the weight load of the stack is supported by the bottles, the carrier including a grid-like bottom, a top frame, columns connecting the bottom to the top frame and stacking projections extending downwardly from the bottom and having parts which project laterally outwardly from the bottom while being laterally inset from the outer edge of the rim.

Abstract: Nonlocking plastic containers having shoulders that are spaced uniformly along the outside of a container for abutment with a plurality of shoulders on the inside of another one of the containers into which it is nested. The shoulders divide the container into a plurality of segments of uniform height and these segments are preferably tapered by an angle that is no greater than will cause the outside diameter of an outside shoulder at the bottom of a segment to be greater than the inside diameter of the inside shoulder at the top of a segment. The shoulders may be rounded in which case at least three abutments are provided to insure that the inside and outside rounded shoulders of nested containers will stay opposite each other.

Abstract: A molded stackable flower pot provided with an annular rim adjacent the bottom thereof, which supports the pot so that the bottom surface is spaced upwardly from a surface supporting the pot. The rim has a plurality of apertures defined therein positioned so that the apertures will received peripheral upper edge portions of two other similar flower pots so that pots can be supported in a stacked and interlocked relationship to each other.

Abstract: A moulded plastics drinking cup for use in beverage vending machines and intended to contain powdered solid water-soluble or dispersible ingredients has a bottom formed as an upwardly directed cuspidal cone extending from the central region of the cup bottom to the sidewall without discontinuity. This shaping confers a desirable flow pattern on hot liquid injected into the cup in the machine and avoids mixing problems incurred with prior art cup bottoms. The conical form need not be complete but may be truncated to give a relatively flat central region that may be planar or domed. The bottom and side wall are preferably interconnected by a bevelled shoulder.

Abstract: The invention comprises a returnable, non-corrosive metal container that can be cleaned and sterilized for re-filling with a pressurized beverage, the container having a tapering side wall with an integral bottom wall end and an open top end having a beaded rim to receive and sealably hold a removable closure, and ledge means extending from the side wall in predetermined spaced relation with one of the top and bottom ends for nestably receiving another similar container with the tapering side wall thereof being spaced away from the first container side wall in a non-locking relationship.

Abstract: Thermoformed cups, having elements adapted to provide a stable handle, which are nestable in a small space, the handle including a tab extending radially from the brim of the cup and a hinged flange at each side of the tab. To form the handle the flanges are turned down and are retained by shoulders of a recess in the upper surface of the cup. Weight of liquid in the cup causes the flanges to bear against the side of the cup to afford stability in addition to that resulting from retention by said shoulders.

Abstract: An improved package is provided which is formed from a blank of rigid material, such as cardboard, and an internal lining of plastic material, with the rigid blank including a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls. The internal lining extends over the top edge of the side walls and along the exterior walls of the package to define an exterior lining. The free edge of the exterior lining includes a flange extending in a direction outwardly from the side walls of the package. In addition, extension flaps of one package are operable to act as a stop and engage a portion of another package nested therewith to prevent the nested packages from being wedged within each other.

Abstract: A nestable, stackable container comprised of a tray preferably erected from carton blank and having cut-away portions defined at the ends thereof, a tray of plastic film is formed within the carton tray through a deep drawn process in which the upper end of the film tray is folded over the upper edge of the carton tray. The film tray is extended outwardly through the cut-away end portions to form a pair of stacking lips which serve to prevent nested containers from becoming wedged into one another.

Abstract: A container assembly for storing a predetermined quantity of foodstuff, medication or the like product comprises a unitary container divided into upper and lower compartments and having a circumferential inner sidewall portion encircling the container interior and dividing it into the two compartments. The product is prefilled in the lower compartment and a closure member fits within the container and coacts therewith to hermetically seal the product within the lower compartment. In one embodiment, the closure member has an annular depending lip which engages in a complementary groove in the container sidewall to seal the lower compartment, and in an alternative embodiment, the closure member has on its underside a ring of adhesive material which adheres to a complementary surface portion of the container sidewall to effectively seal the lower compartment.

Abstract: A reusable enclosed transport case made up of a pair of complementary interlocking members each having a base, a wall along a first edge of the base and a pair of opposed side walls adjoining that wall is disclosed. During shipping, the two interlocking members are locked together to safely retain and protect the contents of the crate. However, upon delivery, one of the interlocking members is removed to provide a display case which when emptied may be returned along with the other member, to the shipper for reuse. Other features include means to permit ease of stacking of the interlocking members for return to the shipper and means to permit normal and criss-cross palletizing of a plurality of the crates one on top the other.

Abstract: A plurality of stacked cups are nested and axially constrained against separation to assure cup-to-cup sealed engagement with portions of adjacent cups to prevent sifting of product from sealed enclosures between adjacent cups. The cups are thick walled, one piece molded plastic cups formed with integral radially inwardly projecting shoulder means spaced upwardly of the bottom wall of the cup. A marginal portion of an adjacent telescoped cup abuts and rests on the shoulder means to form the sealed enclosure for the deliquescent or hygroscopic material which can be reconstituted with the addition of water.

Abstract: Stability of a thermoformed foam meat tray, especially to overwrapping by machine, is enhanced by a circumferential flange of the side walls of generally V-shaped cross section to terminate at approximately the plane of the bottom of the tray. Full nestability is afforded by upper surfaces of the flange at an angle to each other smaller than the corresponding angle between lower surfaces of the flange.

Abstract: In nestable compartmentalized trays at least one portion of at least one connecting edge (formed by the converging, adjacent side walls of two side-by-side situated cup-shaped depressions constituting the compartments) is at a height from the base of the compartments that is different from the height of any other portion of the remaining connecting edges. When the trays are nested to form a stack, the abutting portions of the connecting edges of two adjoining nested trays have different heights from their associated bases. In this manner, the side walls of mutually nesting compartments are maintained spaced from one another.

Abstract: Effective means for insuring predetermined axial spacing between parts in stacks, particularly in stacks of nesting, relatively large, thin-walled flexible parts and for maintaining positive alignment of the parts in stacks without causing undue difficulty when parts are being separated are provided. More specifically, plastic covers for plates or the like having specially constructed stack shoulders and stack stabilizers are provided.

Abstract: A closely nestable one-piece cup molded from expanded or expandable beads of polystyrene, the cup sidewall having a major portion which extends from a point which is spaced no further from the larger, open end of the cup than the desired stacking space between like cups in a stack thereof and which gradually increases in its thickness and in its angle, relative to the vertical central axis of the cup, as it proceeds inwardly and downwardly toward the bottom of the cup. Also, a mold having spaced apart complementally-shaped concave and convex molding surfaces on molding members that are reciprocatable, relative to one another, into and out of closely spaced apart molding relationship to mold such a cup from expandable or expanded beads.

Abstract: A bottle carrier case comprises a wall part and a bottle support tray part of moistureproof material fixedly attached together. The wall part is formed of multi-wall panels, and the tray part has upstanding flanges along its edges secured to the wall part between the wall panels. Ledges on the tray part engage lower edges of wall part panels to prevent contact of such edges upon a support surface on which the tray part may be supported thus preventing wicking of moisture on such surface through the wall edges which are preferably of paperboard. Bottle support platforms extend from the top surface of the tray part upon which bottles are supported, leaving shallow recess thereunder to accommodate the tops of bottles, thus permitting cross stacking of cases. Reinforcing ribs are provided about each support platform; and suitable drainage passages and openings are also provided for escape of liquids.

Abstract: A stackable overcap lid and container combination wherein the container has vertically and horizontally offset annular beveled rim portions for stacking engagement with like portions of similar containers. The rim includes an upper flat lip portion for sealing engagement with an overcap lid. A film located across the container opening and bonded to the lip portion can be used to provide an additional seal. The overcap lid presents an intermediate annular offset portion adapted to seat a similar lid in a stacked relationship and includes a depending wide ring flange which facilitates the vertical stacking of lids and substantially inhibits their disarrangement.

Abstract: A system for cooking spaghetti and similar pasta products includes a cooking section and a storage section with means for supplying water alternately to either section. The cooking section is equipped with a cook pot having conventional electric or gas heaters for heating water to cook spaghetti. A cooking basket containing spaghetti is suspended in the cook pot by attachment to a basket lifter. Electrical timing means connected to the basket lifter automatically lower the cooking basket at the start of a preselected cook cycle and raise the basket out of the cook pot after the cooking period has ended. The storage section includes a storage tank for rinsing and storing cooked spaghetti in cold water. Multiple rows of nesting cups stacked vertically store individual serving portions of spaghetti in the storage tank. A cup rack is used to reconstitute the spaghetti by suspending the serving cups containing cooked spaghetti in the hot water of the cook pot.

Abstract: A closed container composed of identical separable parts each of one-piece plastic construction. Each part has a rectangular base, an upright rear wall, and upright side walls cut diagonally or on the bias. The top and front of each part is substantially open so that it may be used independently of the other part for display purposes. When one of the parts is turned end for end, superposed over the other part and lowered relative thereto, snap-type connectors engage to hold the two parts in assembled relation to form the closed container.

Abstract: A plant carrier is disclosed herein for holding a plant and its soil which includes an open-ended enclosure having a bottom integrally formed at its peripherial edge with an upwardly projecting continuous sidewall diverging outwardly from the bottom and terminating in a reverse curl so to provide a rounded lip about the top of the sidewall. The bottom further includes a downwardly depending cup-like portion having a plurality of holes or openings formed in the annular sidewall thereof. A dish member carries a plurality of projections detachably engageable with the plurality of openings so that a snap-lock releasable engagement is produced. The cup-like portion and the dish member are provided with a locator system for aligning the snap-lock projections with associated openings.

Abstract: A nestable drum is provided with a tubular shell having a lower section and a top section of increased diameter joined by an integral step located approximately at the shell middle. The larger diameter top section is adapted to conveniently receive the reduced bottom section to facilitate nesting when drums are stacked one upon the other. The step is formed with a series of spaced reinforcing gussets which are adapted to rest on the top end of a lower drum in the stack. The top of the shell is necked-in and possesses a diameter less than that of the top section and is curled outwardly to provide a bead which receives a cover locked in place by a split clamping ring. One form of cover is provided with an indentation which is adapted to receive the bottom closure of a stacked drum to lock it in place and thereby prevent any relative sliding.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to nestable type articles, and more particularly to nestable containers designed to counteract the jamming or wedging of telescopically associated or stacked containers. The invention is particularly useful for one-piece thin-walled plastic containers of the type used in vending machines and comprises a unique wall formation for urging or guiding adjacent identical containers in a nested stack into different rotational positions to insure a positive and substantial stacking abutment between adjacent containers. An embodiment of the present invention disclosed herein includes a one-piece, thin-walled plastic container having a sidewall diverging generally upwardly from the bottom, said container being equipped with novel stacking means comprising upper internal and lower external circumferential stacking sections formed by a series of axially spaced abutments and recesses. The abutments and recesses extend generally axially and radially.

Abstract: This disclosure deals with a pipe sleeve used to form a hole when pouring a concrete slab or the like. The pipe sleeve includes a tubular elongated side wall having an end wall closing one end thereof and a radially outwardly extending flange at the other end thereof. Longitudinally extending ribs are formed on the outside surface of the side wall, and a plurality of grooves are formed in the inner surface of the side wall. The side wall is tapered, and due to this taper, the pipe sleeves may be compactly stacked for storage or for shipping purposes. The sleeve may be used either in its original length or, if desired, in a shorter length by cutting the side wall to a desired length and then telescoping the two cut sections together. When stacked for shipping or storage, the ribs are located in the grooves but when two cut sections are telescoped, the ribs are out of the grooves and tightly bind the two sections together.

Abstract: A nestable container having a frusto-conical downwardly tapering sidewall, and a bottom which includes a plurality of embossed lugs disposed towards the periphery and a portion lying inside the lugs which is embossed upwardly forming a surface on the interior of the container for engaging the lugs of and radially and axially restraining an upper nested container. In one form of the invention the upper end of the container has means for spacing it a predetermined distance from an adjacent container in a nested stack of containers.