Abstract:
The present invention is comprised of an at least one of at least two containers of equal of different dimensions, having a sidewall that forms a tubular or parallelogramic inner cavity. The sidewall is terminated or sealed at the top and bottom with a removable lid. The lid may be slightly different for a lid covering the uppermost container. Each removable lid is comprised of a horizontal covering surface having a rim or ribbon around its perimeter. The bottom rim forms a stand or a sealed means for attaching to a lower container, while the top rim, if present and engaged in a sealed association, forms a means for attachment to an upper container. The lid preferably further contains an opening to permit dispensing of contents being stored inside the cavity of the container. There may also exist a top terminal lid whose lid may contain only the just the internal coupler area which forms a tight seal around an upper lip of a container&#39;s sidewall. All removable components of the present invention form a tight waterproof, airproof and weatherproof seal with designated mounting components.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims prior of a Provisional Application for a Ser. No. 62/182,152 filed on Jun. 19, 2015, the contents if which are fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a modular multipurpose container for carrying food and non-food items. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention greatly expands the utility of a refillable water bottle and general use food storage containers. Existing portable devices for carrying liquids and solids must be emptied before being reused for a different liquid or solid. Therefore, when on the go, needing or desiring to have multiple of different liquids or solids simultaneously requires one to use separate containers. It will usually take two containers to carry a measure of water and a dietary shake, Having to carry several containers presents a myriad of problems including added weight, space usage and shear inconvenience of container juggling being the most prominent among them. 
         [0004]    A further problem of existing solutions in the art is that containers generally cannot be resized. For example, a user needing more water than what can be stored within a standard water bottle, requires the use of a second water bottle or a container that is larger than the standard water bottle. Once the contents of such bottle get consumed, the user would then need to lug about an empty container or two with no way of combining them or repurposing them for some other use. It would also mean that the user will need to own and carry different containers that would satisfy different uses and circumstances. While a collapsible container would solve this problem and such already exist in the art, these present little utility when a robust and durable structure is needed, such as in a gym or on field trips. Furthermore, when contents of a single conventional jar or water bottle are earmarked for consumption by several people, one must have on hand cups, plates or bowls in order to share contents of a single container among several people in a sanitary and hygienically desirable manner. 
         [0005]    An additional problem is that present containers cannot be used well across both liquid and solid contents. Rather, containers normally used for solids fulfil that task well, but fall short with liquids and visa-versa. For example, a wide mouthed container in shape of a box having a lid, such as those sold for food storage by Topperware® or Rubbermaid®, are designed to store solid or semi-solid food items. The wide open access is ideal for placing and dispensing solid items. A wide mouth is less desirable with liquids because it increases the likelihood of leakage, spillage and contamination. On the other hand, water bottles are designed to limit the risk of splashes and enable consumption of liquids even when on-the-go. However, bottle shaped containers cannot be used to carry solids due to cumbersome fill-up process and nearly impossible extraction. Therefore, a user wishing to carry or store food and drink, or other forms liquids and solids, would be required to utilize at least two distinct containers with all negative connotations of using multiple storage contains as were mentioned before. 
         [0006]    The solution presented by the present invention is to utilize a stackable and modular container. It is preferred that each module is relatively small to accommodate small needs. This size can then be embellished or supplemented with additional modules. If additional space is required, a separation lid is removed between two or more modules resulting in an increased common interior volume. Individual modules may be refiled or contents accessed by removing the lid separator. Or, if a liquid is used, one of the removable lids may double as a liquid dispenser by having an opening that can be resealed with a removable cover. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0007]    The present invention solves at least three problems as described above, as well as other undesired problems with conventional devises. Additional solutions and utilities may be envisioned. While the concept of stackable containers has been explored in the past, none of the prior solutions contain all required features and limitations of the present invention. 
         [0008]    The U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,863 teaches an extendable baby bottle. Aside from an obvious utility of a baby bottle, this device described in this invention cannot be easily used for any other purpose. Furthermore, unlike the present invention, this reference requires a user to hold or store additional parts that are required to fulfil the main utility of the device. 
         [0009]    The US Patent Application No. 2006/0273059 discloses an extendable baby feeder. While a stackable architecture is described, it is still a device for a singular purpose of extending capacity of a baby feeder. 
         [0010]    The US Patent Application No. 2013/0092693 is still another example of an expandable container. However, the disclosed container is intended to only expand internal capacity as desired and is not intended to create individual modular units having the potential to link together. 
         [0011]    Various implements are known in the art, but fail to address all of the problems solved by the invention described herein. One embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be described in more detail herein below. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention is comprised of an at least one or at least two containers of equal of different dimensions, having a sidewall that forms a tubular or parallelogramic inner cavity. The sidewall is terminated or sealed at the top and bottom with a removable lid. The lid may be slightly different for is lid covering the uppermost container. Each removable lid is comprised of a horizontal covering surface having a rim or ribbon around its perimeter. The bottom rim forms a stand or a sealed means for attaching to a lower container, while the top rim, if present and engaged in a sealed association, forms a means for attachment to an upper container. The lid preferably further contains an opening to permit dispensing of contents being stored inside the cavity of the container. There may also exist a top terminal lid whose lid may contain only the just the internal coupler area, which forms a tight seal around an upper lip of a container&#39;s sidewall. All removable components of the present invention form a tight waterproof, airproof and weatherproof seal with designated mounting components. 
         [0013]    It is an object of the present invention to create a stackable and modular storage container for liquids and solids. 
         [0014]    It is another object of the present invention to increase convenience and appeal of existing liquid containers. 
         [0015]    It is still another object of the present invention to create expandable or compartmentalized containers. 
         [0016]    It is still another object of the present invention to create as modular container that is still capable of hermetically sealing stored content. 
         [0017]    It is yet another object of the present invention to create a modular container capable of carrying, storing and dispensing liquids and solids equally well. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3   
           [0022]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are a plurality of views of the sidewall and coupling areas of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIGS. 6A, 68  are several views of one embodiment of the lid. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 7A, 7B  are several views of another embodiment of the lid. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a lid of another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is an exploded diagram of another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals. 
         [0029]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto. 
         [0030]    Turning, now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate an a modular storage apparatus  10 , at least one container  20 , a sidewall  30 , a perimeter  40 , an inner cavity  50 , a removable lid  60 , a horizontal cover  70 , a top surface  80 , a bottom surface  90 , a ribbon  100 , a perimeter  110  for said horizontal cover  70 , an external coupler area  120 , an internal coupler area  130 , an inner surface  140 , and an outer surface  150 , temporary sealed association  160 , an opening  170 , a removable cover  180 , a slide-away cover  220  that is housed between guides  230 , thread  260 , and griping bulges  270 . 
         [0031]    The at least one container  20  comprises a sidewall  30  and a removable lid  60 . The removable lid  60  can serve both as the bottom cover  61  and as a top cover  62 . Each lid  60  is interchangeable and may serve as a top cover  62  for one sidewall  30  or as a bottom cover  61  for another sidewall  30 .  FIG. 1  shows three containers  20  forming three distinct modules. Alternatively one may add additional or fewer modules than shown. In  FIG. 1  the removable lid  60  and the sidewall  30  of the container  20  are in a temporary sealed association  160  within the joint area  162 . The association is temporary since the entire container  20  can be disassembled into its constituting parts, and then reassembled again into a sealed entity having two removable lids  60  for top and bottom covers and a sidewall  30 . The sealed association means that the coupling joint area  162  is sealed against seepage of liquid or air both to and from the container  20 . 
         [0032]    The removable cover or lid  60  is comprised of a horizontal cover  70 , which is the member that serves as the cover or bottom to the container  20 . The horizontal cover  70  contains a perimeter  110  in form of a ribbon  100 . The ribbon  100  is essentially a short sidewall surrounding the horizontal cover  70 . 
         [0033]    The ribbon  100  contains an external coupler area  120  that is preferably immediately adjacent to the internal coupler area  130 . The external coupler area  120  is essentially a male connector that is coupled into the internal coupler area  130 , or a female connector, of either another lid  60  or a sidewall  30  of the container  20 . The horizontal cover  70  may be mounted within the perimeter  110  at about a half way point, or a point between the external coupler area  120  and an internal coupler area  130 . Preferably however, since the horizontal cover  70  also contains an opening  170  that is intended to be used for pouring liquids or as a drinking spout, the horizontal cover  70  is positioned near the top portion  112  of the ribbon  100 . 
         [0034]      FIGS. 1 and 2  demonstrate a slide away cover  220 , which slides horizontally back and forth the direction  182  within the guides  230 . The slide-away cover  220  constitutes a removable cover  180  as it is not fixed in one place. When the removable cover  180  is covering the opening  170 , no liquid is able to flow between cavities  50  that are separated by the cover  70  (of if the cover is also the top most or terminal cover, liquid is then unable to flow from the cavity  50  toward the surrounding environment, or from the surrounding environment into the internal cavity  50 ). As shown in  FIGS. 1 , with the removable cover  180  being closed, the inner cavities of two adjacent containers  201  are completely separate from each other. There is preferably a cutaway  172  corresponding, the movable cover  180 , thus improving its appearance and functionality as a spout. 
         [0035]    The sidewall  30  is preferably upright, but may be slightly conical or may have uneven surfaces, or a surface shaped into a whimsical shape. The outer surface  150  features a plurality of gripping bulges  270 . In addition, similar griping bulges  270  may be deployed on the inner surface  140 . The gripping bulges  270  serve a dual purpose, namely, they provide a textured and notched surface which can be easily and securely held while loosening or tightening the various components of the apparatus  10 , or to provide structural strength and rigidity to the sidewall  30 . 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4  that are demonstrating another embodiment of the present invention. Shown are the modular storage apparatus  10 , at least one container  20 , a sidewall  30 , an inner cavity  50 , a removable lid  60 , a top terminal lid  300 , a ribbon  100 , a horizontal cover  70 , a top surface  80 , a perimeter  110 , gripping bulges  270 . 
         [0037]    Shown in  FIG. 3  is the top terminus cover  300 , or top cover for short. The to cover  300  is disposed at the top end  310  of the storage apparatus  10 , and preferably further contains an opening  170 , a border  190 , a swing-away cover  200  which is demonstratively removable. The swing-away cover  200  may also be referred to as a removable cap. The swing away cover  200  is removably tethered to the to surface  80 , and immediately to the harness  208  and is capable of swinging radially about the pivot  210  to cover the opening  170 . The flange  202  is preferably threaded unto the border  190  in a preferably snug fashion so as to maintain a water and air seal for the cavity  50 . 
         [0038]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the removable lid  60  has no opening, with the only opening being at the top terminus cover  300 . The internal coupler area  130  of the top terminal lid  300  may fit on top of the external coupler area  120  of either a removable lid  60  or the sidewall  30 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , liquid can be exuded from the cavity  50  only through the opening  170  of the top terminal lid  300 . To release contents of containers  20  that are stacked below the container located at the top  310 , a user will need to remove the removable lid  60  from the external coupler area  120 , and either extract contents of the container  20  at that point, or replace the lid  60  with the top cover  300  for a more controlled and gradual dispensing through the opening  170 . Alternatively, each of the removable lids  60  may each have their own openings  170 . 
         [0039]    Still referring to  FIG. 4  also shown is the recessed disposition of the external coupler area  120  with respect to the exterior surface  152  of the ribbon  100  or the outer surface  150  of the sidewall  30 . The recess is desirable as it forms a base  290  which functions as a ledge to further seal the associated components, such as a lid  60  on top or on bottom of a sidewall  30  or the point of attachment of two sidewalk  30  in the case where two or more sidewalls  30  are being stacked on top of each other. The recesses may also be aesthetically preferred, since it presents a smooth uniform common sidewall of all of the combined stacked containers  20 . 
         [0040]    Similarly to the recessed external coupler area  120 , the internal coupler area  130  may present a raised band on the outer surface  150  or the exterior surface  152  of the ribbon  100 . The present invention preferably contains both recessed and raised surfaces corresponding to the external and internal coupler area  120  and  130 , respectively, or it can have either recessed or raised areas, but not both. The recessed and raised areas may also be achieved by varying the diameter of the ring that forms the coupler area versus the diameter of the sidewall  30  or the ribbon  100 . This is more clearly shown in  FIG. 5B , where the diameter  250  is of one length while the diameter of the internal coupler area  130  is of slightly longer length. 
         [0041]    Further shown in  FIG. 3  is that removable lid  60  forming the bottommost cover at point  320 . 
         [0042]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  demonstrate the close up of the sidewall  30 . Shown is the sidewall  30  that forms a cylindrical structure forming a perimeter  40  around the cavity  50 . The cylindrical structure is preferred in the present embodiment due the threaded surfaces  260 . However, the internal cavity may contain individual sides and corners in embodiments that accomplish temporary sealed association using corresponding snap surfaces ( FIG. 10 ), bayonet connections or frictional connection. Meaning the container  20  may be square, triangular or otherwise paralelogramic 
         [0043]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  further demonstrate the top end  310  and the bottom end  320  of the sidewall  30 . The internal coupler area  130  in  FIG. 5B  may be threaded over the external coupler area  120  of  FIG. 5A  to form a stacked sidewall  30 , with resultant internal cavity  50  being the combination of two or more cavities. A user may stack as many or as few sidewalls  30  as desired. Additionally, the user may stack two or more sidewalk together to form a single container  20 , and then insert a separate sidewall  30 , separated from other sidewalk  30  with a removable lid  60  to form a separate container  20 . 
         [0044]    Also shown in  FIG. 3  is the average diameter  250  of the sidewall  30 , which is preferably between two and ten inches long, as well as the preferred height  253  of the sidewall  30 , which is preferably between two and five inches. 
         [0045]      FIGS. 6A  a top view of the removable lid  60 , while  FIG. 6B . is the bottom view of the removable lid  60 . Visible also is the horizontal cover  70 , the top surface  80  the bottom surface  90 , the opening  170 , the perimeter  110 , the slide-away cover  220 , which slides within and is held in place by parallel guides  230  that are placed at a distance  254  of preferably ¼ to 1 inch apart, and close to the perimeter of the  110  of the horizontal cover  70 . Also shown s the ribbon  100  having an external coupler area  120  vertically adjacent to the internal coupler area  130 . 
         [0046]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  demonstrate the top terminal cover  300 , which does not have an external coupler area  120 . Shown also is the top surface  80  housing, a harness  208  for the pivot  210 , which further contains the pivoting arm  204  and the cap area  200 . The cap area has a recessed band  202  that is threaded over the border  190  that frames the opening  170 . As such, the recessed band  202  provides for an improved grip area for easier removal of the cap  200  off of the top of the opening  170 . As may be appreciated by one familiar in the art, the cap type used in  FIGS. 6A  and  FIG. 7A  are interchangeable between the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 6A and 7A . 
         [0047]      FIG. 8  is a side view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention showing a gasket  280  at the base  290  of the ledge  291  that is formed when the external coupler area is recessed. The gasket provides additional insulation from leakages. The gasket  280  is preferably a single complete ring around the perimeter of the base  290 . The internal coupler area  130  may also contain a gasket  280  at the base point  292 . 
         [0048]    Continuing with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9  demonstrates smooth sidewalls  30  that are either connected to each other, or to a removable lid  60  that serves as the coupler or a joint between two sidewalls  30 . Also shown is another embodiment of the opening  170  being placed close to the perimeter  110 . The axially swinging cap  200  contains a pivot point  210 , also close to perimeter  110  on the opposite side from opening  170 . The harness  208  is of a lower profile than in  FIG. 7A , with the cap  200  having a cutout  205  that traces the exterior profile of the harness  208 . As such, when the cap  200  is in dosed position, the cap  200  and harness  208  present a single level surface that forms the top surface  80 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 10  demonstrates an alternative embodiment of achieving temporary sealed association. Whereas the prior figs featured corresponding threading  260  between internal and external coupler areas  130  and  120 , respectively,  FIG. 10  shows corresponding snap band  330 , so that corresponding snap band  330  of an external coupler  120  threads over and snaps above the band  330  disposed on the internal coupler area  130  and locked, in place thereby. 
         [0050]    The modular storage apparatus  10  may be made of any material, such as but not limited to plastic, resin, metal, class or wood. Different components may be made of different or same materials. The container  20  may be used to carry liquid and solid substances. In another alternative embodiment, the sidewall  30  may be a double wall, to maintain a constant temperature in the cavity  50 . 
         [0051]    Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.