Abstract:
Portable and stackable multipurpose containers are disclosed. The containers have an oval base and an oval top in communication with sides of the wall extending perpendicularly from the base. The oval top is slidably positioned to open from both sides, which are perpendicular to the oval sides; the top is slidable. The multipurpose container is adapted for storing nails, screws, and similar items useful to craftsmen.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container having a plastic boxlike structure including a base with a concave surface and a top having a convex surface congruent to the concave surface of the base, and suitable for stacking. 
     These portable and stackable plastic multipurpose containers are suitable for storing nails, screws, and other small items used by craftsmen. For convenient storage, these portable and stackable plastic multipurpose containers are stacked. 
     BACKGROUND AND RELATED ART 
     A variety of tool cases have been disclosed. The present invention provides a versatile portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container suitable for holding nails, screws, and other similarly sized related items. The portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container can be opened from both sides of the top, thus facilitating the use of the container. An advantage of the portable and stackable plastic multipurpose containers of this invention is that the containers are designed to be stackable. This property saves space, since only a relatively small space is needed to store many of the portable and stackable plastic multipurpose containers of this invention. 
     The following references are of interest, but are clearly unrelated to the claimed invention. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,556 to Van Loo discloses a container for small objects that is provided with a glide closure. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,204 B2 to Lange, et al. discloses a receptacle having a translatably-guidable cover. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to a portable and stackable plastic multipurpose containers (“container”) suitable to be stacked. The container includes a base with a concave surface, a top, a pair of side walls, a front wall, and a rear wall. The top is formed from slidable convex panels wherein the convex curvature of the panels is substantially congruent to a portion of the concave surface of the base. The pair of opposed, substantially identical, side walls extend perpendicularly from the base and have a curved upper portion congruent with a curvature of the top. The side walls&#39; curved upper portion has a top and a bottom of the curve. The front and rear walls extend perpendicularly from the base and the slidable convex panels of the top of the container slide to meet the bottom of the top and a top of the front and rear walls. The top slidable panels are positioned to form at least a portion of two sides of the container. Suitably, the top panels are slidably positioned to open from either the front or the rear of the container. The top is also slidable laterally along a length of the front and rear walls. Preferably, each panel of the top has a plastic connecting member to close each panel to one or more of the front/rear walls and the top is engageable with one or more of the side walls. Advantageously, a plurality of supporting structures strengthen the base of the container. Preferably, these supporting structures are located on the base inside the container. The stacking of the containers is facilitated by providing the top with two tenons, which engage two mortise apertures at the bottom of the base, thus securing the stack. The containers of this invention are particularly suitable for carrying nails, screws, and other similarly sized items used by craftsmen. 
     The containers of this invention are used independently. However, to save space in storage, a plurality of containers of this invention are stacked. This is suitably accomplished wherein for each set of two containers, the two tenons on the top of one container have been inserted in the two mortise apertures of the bottom of the base of the other container. Suitably, the stacks of plastic containers have curved or convex rectangular bases, curved or convex square bases, or bases having a different configuration. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 1  with both top panels open and showing the support structures located on the base inside the container. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 1  illustrating an aperture, which facilitates the closing of the container. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the container with a top panel closed showing the closing mechanism and stacking. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the container with the top front panel open. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a first side of the container showing the curved upper portion, the concave base and a connecting system whereby the top is fastened to the sidewall. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a second side of the container showing the curved upper portion and the protruding flange, which supports the stacking of the plurality of the containers. 
         FIG. 8  is the rear view of the container showing two mortise apertures where the tenons of the container connect to assist in stacking the containers. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the container with both top panels closed showing two tenons. 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the container of  FIG. 9  with both top panels open. 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of the container of  FIG. 9  with one top panel open showing the connector and the aperture, which facilitates the closing of the container. 
         FIG. 12  is another side view of the first side of the container showing the curved upper portion of the first side wall, the base, and a connecting system whereby the top is fastened to the side wall. 
         FIG. 13  is another side view of the second side of the container showing the curved upper portion of the side wall and the protruding flange, which supports the stacking of a plurality of containers. 
         FIG. 14  is a rear view of the container showing two mortise apertures where the tenons of the container connect to assist in stacking the containers. Also showing is a supporting structure for the base. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the container showing the top panels open and slidable laterally along the length of the front and rear walls and showing the bottom and the inside walls of the container. 
         FIG. 16  is a side view of a stack of four containers shown from the first side. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a stack of four containers. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a stack of two containers showing the flanges on the first side of the container. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to a portable and stackable plastic multipurpose containers (“container”) suitable to be stacked. The container includes a base with a concave surface, a top, a pair of side walls, a front wall, and a rear wall. The top is formed slidable convex panels which are slidable, wherein the convex curvature of the panels is substantially congruent to a portion of the concave surface of the base. The pair of opposed, substantially identical, side walls extend perpendicularly from the base and have a curved upper portion congruent with a curvature of the top. The side walls&#39; curved upper portion has a top and a bottom of the curve. The front and the rear walls extend from the base to a bottom portion of the top. The front and rear walls extend perpendicularly from the base and the slidable convex panels of the top of the container slide to meet the bottom of the top and an upper surface of the front and rear walls. The top slidable panels are positioned to form at least two sides of the container. Suitably, the top panels are slidably positioned to open from either the front and/or the rear of the container. The top is also slidable laterally along a length of the front and rear walls. Preferably, each panel of the top has a plastic connecting member to close each panel to one or more of the front/rear walls and the top is engageable with one or more of the side walls. In addition, the top preferably has a latch which engages the top to the side wall(s). 
     Advantageously, a plurality of supporting structures strengthen the base of the container. Preferably, these supporting structures are located on the base inside the container. The stacking of the containers is facilitated by providing the top of the container with two tenons, which engage two mortise apertures at the bottom of the base, thus securing the stack. The containers of this invention are particularly suitable for carrying nails, screws, and other similarly sized items used by craftsmen. 
     In another embodiment, the container is provided with a rectangular base, (b) a top, and (c) a pair of opposed substantially identical side walls extending perpendicularly from a shorter side of the rectangular base with a curved upper portion. The curved upper portion of the side walls have a top and a bottom. Front and rear walls are provided, each having a length greater than that of either of the side walls. These front and rear walls extend perpendicularly from the longer sides of the rectangular base. The top panels are slidably positioned to open from at least two sides preferably from the front and rear of the container. Each panel of the top of the container is provided with a plastic connecting member to close each top panel to the its respective front or rear wall. The container base is strengthened by a plurality of supporting structures located on the base inside the container and outside the container. To facilitate stacking, the top is provided with two tenons, which connect to the mortise aperture located at the bottom of the base of a second container. The top including both panels are provided with means which enable the top to move laterally/longitudinally over the curved sidewall thus facilitating the removal of objects stored in the container of this invention. 
     An additional embodiment provides a portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container with a square base. In all these configurations, the base of the container is strengthened by the supporting structures and the top and bottom of the container have a configuration with surfaces congruent to one another. In all these configurations, the top, including both sides, are provided with means which enable the top to move laterally along a length of the container thus facilitating the removal of objects stored in the portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container of this invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a view of the rectangular portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container ( 10 ) wherein the top ( 21 ) is shown with both panels ( 11 ) and ( 12 ) closed, and also showing two tenons ( 13 ), locking one handle ( 16 ) into front wall ( 19 ). Also shown is a connector ( 41 ) and a latch ( 42 ). 
       FIG. 2  is a view of the rectangular portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container ( 10 ) showing the top&#39;s panels ( 11 ) and ( 12 ) slidable and open showing the bottom of the multipurpose container ( 14 ) having a plurality of supporting structures ( 15 ). Also shown are the locking mechanisms ( 16 ) on the top of each of the panels ( 11 ) and ( 12 ) and the bottom of the locking mechanism ( 17 ) in the middle of the front wall of the rectangular portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container ( 10 ). 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the rectangular portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container ( 10 ) with both panels ( 11 ) and ( 12 ) closed and showing the two tenons ( 13 ), the locking mechanism ( 16 ), the front wall ( 19 ) of the rectangular container ( 10 ) and a first side wall ( 20 ). Also shown are a connector ( 41 ) and a latch ( 42 ), wherein the connector  41  is positioned on the first side wall and the latch is attached to the top and positionable such that the latch  42  is engageable with the connector  41  to prevent the top  21 , panels  11 ,  12 , from moving. 
       FIG. 4  shows a stack of four rectangular portable and stackable plastic multipurpose containers ( 10 ) with the top panels ( 11 ) and ( 12 ) closed. Also shown are the locking mechanisms ( 16 ), two tenons ( 13 ) and a flange ( 43 ) with an aperture ( 47 ) through which can be passed a connecting wire or rod to stabilize the stack ( 48 ) if necessary. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the rectangular portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container ( 10 ) with the top panel ( 11 ) open from the side adjacent the front wall ( 19 ). 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the rectangular portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container ( 10 ) from the first side wall ( 20   a ) showing the first side wall ( 20   a ) and a connecting system whereby the top ( 21 ) is fastened to the sidewall ( 20   a . The top  21  is slidable, movable to open the container ( 10 ). 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the second side wall ( 20   b ) of the rectangular portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container ( 10 ). The second side wall ( 20   b ) is opposite the first side wall ( 20   a ) shown in  FIG. 6 , and includes the curved upper portion ( 46 ) with an apex ( 24 ) and a plateau ( 26 ), and the flange ( 43 ). 
       FIG. 8  is the rear view ( 45 ) of the rectangular portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container ( 10 ) showing two mortise apertures ( 48 ) where the tenons ( 13 ) of the other container ( 10 ) connect to assist in the stacking of the rectangular portable and stackable plastic multipurpose containers ( 10 ). Also shown is a supporting structure for the base ( 49 ). 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of the square portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container  100  with both panels  111  and  112  closed. 
       FIG. 10  is a view of the square portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container  100  of  FIG. 9  with both panels  111  and  112  open. 
       FIG. 11  is a view of the square, portable and stackable multipurpose container  100  of  FIG. 9  illustrating the panels  111  and  112  and showing the tenons  113  with one side opening showing the handle  116  and the aperture  117 , which facilitates the closing of the square portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container  100 . 
       FIG. 12  is side view of the square portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container  100  from a first sidewall  120   a  showing the curved upper portion  146 , the curved base  152 , a connecting system  153  whereby the top is fastened to the first side wall  120   a.    
       FIG. 13  is a side view of the square portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container  100  illustrating the second side wall  120   b , opposing the first side wall  120   a  and showing the upper portion  146  and the protruding flange  143 . Suitably, wires or other fastening devices are passed through the apertures  147  (shown in  FIG. 11 ) to form a stack of the square, portable and stackable multipurpose containers  100 . 
       FIG. 14  illustrates two mortise apertures  148  where the tenons  113  of the portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container  100  connect to assist in stacking the multipurpose containers  100 . 
       FIG. 15  illustrates the top panels  111  and  112  of the rectangular portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container  100  showing the top panels open and retracted and two tenons  113 . Also shown are the front wall  119 , the locking mechanism  116  and the second side wall  120   b , and a latch  142 . 
       FIG. 16  is a side view from the first side wall ( 20 ) of the rectangular portable and stackable plastic multipurpose container ( 10 ) showing the top panels  11 ,  12  closed. Also shown is a connector ( 41 ) and a latch ( 42 ) and four containers ( 10 ). 
       FIG. 17  is a side view of a stack of four rectangular portable and stackable plastic multipurpose containers ( 10 ) shown from the second sidewall  20   b  and front wall ( 19 ). Also shown is the flange  43  and the aperture  47  in the flange  43 . 
       FIG. 18  is a side view of a stack of two rectangular portable and stackable plastic multipurpose containers ( 10 ) showing both the front wall ( 19 ) and the second side wall  20   b . Also shown are the aperture ( 47 ) in the flange ( 43 ) the locking system ( 16 ), two tenons ( 13 ) and the top panels  11 ,  12  closed. 
     Various modifications to the invention are contemplated. It is understood, therefore, that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than specifically described.