Containers with interlocking covers

a technology of interlocking covers and containers, which is applied in the field of containers, can solve the problems of occupying a great deal of space for unused containers, unable to match the base and cover of the container, and unable to meet the needs of the container,

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-04-02
COONCE RYAN J +1
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]Embodiments according to the principles of the present invention provide containers whose covers may be stacked together in two different ways. First, the covers may be nested and stacked and configured into an “aligned” stack. The aligned stack provides enough structural rigidity for bulk handling during manufacturing. Second, the...

Problems solved by technology

When not in use, the containers are often stored haphazardly into drawers.
In this case, the unused containers take up a great deal of room, and finding a matching base and cover, which make up a container, in a disarranged drawer may be difficult.
While the bases of the containers usuall...

Method used

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  • Containers with interlocking covers
  • Containers with interlocking covers
  • Containers with interlocking covers

Examples

Experimental program
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Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0038]An embodiment according to the principles of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-7. As seen in FIG. 1, a container 100 includes a flexible cover 102 sealingly engaged to a base 104. The cover 102 includes at least one gripping tab 106 to facilitate removal of the cover 102 from the base 104. In some embodiments, the gripping tab 106 includes one or more cross-ribs or a textured surface to improve a user's grip and lift on the tab 106. The container 100 is depicted as substantially square with rounded corners. In other embodiments of the present invention, the container 100 has other shapes such as square, circular, or elliptical.

[0039]As seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, and as described and illustrated more fully below, the cover 102, and more particularly the gripping tab 106, includes an engagement portion 308. Engagement portion 308 allows the cover 102 to engage with the engagement portion of a second cover.

[0040]The cover 102 further includes a first closure portion 3...

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PUM

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Abstract

A container 100 includes a cover 102 and a base 104. The cover 102 of the container 100 includes a first closure portion 310, an engagement portion 308, and an alignment portion. The base 104 includes a second closure portion 212. The first closure portion 310 of the cover 102 is sealingly engageable with the second closure portion 212 of the base 104 to define a sealed storage area. Multiple covers 102 stack together in two different ways. First, the covers 102 may be stacked into an “aligned” stack. Second, the covers 102 may be stacked into a locked stack. The alignment portion of the cover 102 is engageable with the alignment portion of a second cover to form an aligned cover stack. The engagement portion 310 of the cover 102 is receivingly engageable by the engagement portion 308 of a second cover 602 to form a locked cover stack 728.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to containers, and, more particularly, to containers whose covers align together when stacked in a first position and which may be locked together in a second position.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Rigid, thermoplastic food containers are generally known. Users often accumulate a large number of these containers in different sizes and shapes. When not in use, the containers are often stored haphazardly into drawers. In this case, the unused containers take up a great deal of room, and finding a matching base and cover, which make up a container, in a disarranged drawer may be difficult. To avoid this, some users stack the containers in cabinets. While the bases of the containers usually nest and therefore take up less room than in a disorganized drawer, it may still be difficult to match a base with a cover. In addition, the covers may not stack and the covers may tend to topple down. When the containers are in u...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B65D21/036B65D43/03
CPCB65D43/0208B65D2543/00027B65D2543/00101B65D2543/00296B65D2543/00509B65D2543/00842B65D2543/00555B65D2543/0062B65D2543/00685B65D2543/00731B65D2543/00796B65D2543/00537
Inventor COONCE, RYAN J.MAXWELL, JASON R.
Owner COONCE RYAN J
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