Abstract:
A container and lid system is designed to nest and positively attach to other identically sized portions. Stacks of containers and lids are subsequently connected together to form a unitary stack which provides compact storage and organization of the system. The container and lid portions of the system may be configured with various complementing an integrally-molded features which enable engagement and retention thereof.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/110,788, which was filed Feb. 2, 2015, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a container and lid system designed to nest and attach to other identically sized portions. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A peek inside of most kitchen cabinets and cupboards in most homes would reveal an unorganized wealth of plastic storage containers. While these containers do an admirable job of keeping food and leftovers fresh, they do have significant drawbacks. The most significant drawback being the containers numerous sizes make it often difficult to quickly find a matching lid. 
     While the containers are usually of a tapered design and can be stacked, the lids are not, and are simply tossed together in a loose state. This leads to wasted space, a disorganized appearance and perhaps most notably, it leads to personal frustration and aggravation when trying to find a lid to place on a container of food. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which empty food containers and lids can be more easily stored in an improved and streamlined manner without the disadvantages as described above. The use of the system provides a means to store empty plastic food containers in an organized state that uses all available storage space while at the same time reducing confusion and chaos. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for a container and lid system designed to nest and attach to other identically sized portions. 
     It is therefore the purpose of the inventor to provide a nesting container and lid system comprising a plurality of containers and a plurality of lids. Each container has an open container top, a container locking feature, a closed container bottom and a container sidewall tapering downward in diameter from the container top to the container bottom, thereby defining an interior. Each lid has a lid body, an interior lid locking feature, a lid rim located on an exterior side of the interior lid locking feature and an exterior lid locking feature located subjacent to the interior lid locking feature and the lid rim. 
     Each individual container is capable of being nested within a separate individual superjacent or subjacent container. Each interior lid locking feature of each lid is capable of being secured to the container locking feature of an individual container to seal the interior. The interior lid locking feature of each lid is capable of being secured to the exterior lid locking feature of a superjacent or subjacent lid. The plurality of containers and lids may be made of a plastic which is capable of being reused. The containers may be either drinking vessels or bowls. The locking features of each container and lid may be integrally molded. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the container locking feature further comprises a male thread circumscribing an exterior upper perimeter edge of the container top and extending annularly about the exterior upper perimeter edge. The interior lid locking feature further comprises a female thread circumscribing an interior perimeter edge of each the lid body and extending about the interior perimeter edge. The exterior lid locking feature further comprises a male thread circumscribing an exterior perimeter edge of the lid body and extending about the perimeter edge. Thus, the container locking feature of the preferred embodiment is capable of being threadingly secured to the interior lid locking feature while the interior lid locking feature is capable of being threadingly secured to the exterior lid locking feature. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the container locking feature further comprises a first fastener, the interior lid locking feature comprises a second fastener and the exterior lid locking feature comprises a third fastener. Thus, the container locking feature of the alternate embodiment is capable of being secured to the interior lid locking feature while the interior lid locking feature is capable of being friction fit secured to the exterior lid locking feature. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a nesting lid and container system  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of container  20  and a lid  40 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the nesting lid and container system  10  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternate system  100  of the invention depicting a stacked state, according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternate container  120  and an alternate lid  140 ; and, 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the alternate system  100  taken along section line B-B (see  FIG. 4 ), according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  nesting lid and container system 
               15  container closed bottom 
               17  container open top 
               19  container sidewall 
               20  container 
               22  container locking feature 
               40  lid 
               42  lid rim 
               44  interior lid locking feature 
               48  exterior lid locking feature 
               100  alternate system 
               120  alternate container 
               122  alternate container locking feature 
               124  alternate container closed bottom 
               126  alternate container open top 
               128  alternate container sidewall 
               140  alternate lid 
               142  alternate lid rim 
               144  alternate lid locking feature 
               148  lid locking groove 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 3 , and in terms of an alternate embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 4 through 6 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one (1) particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one (1) of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a nesting lid and container system (herein described as the “system”)  10 , which provides for stacked storage of multiple empty containers  20  together with their lids  40  as one (1) unit. The attaching and stacking of the containers  20  and lids  40  allows convenient storage in a drawer or cabinet in a combined manner without worry of the containers  20  or lids  40  becoming separated, resulting in disorganization, confusion, and a messy appearance. As the containers  20  and lids  40  are emptied and washed, they are simply added back to the bottom and top of the stack respectively. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , perspective and sectional views of the system  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The system  10  provides an attachment and stacking means to specially-designed plastic reusable containers  20  and lids  40  via connecting features being incorporated into a plastic molding manufacturing process. A typical design of a container  20  and corresponding locking lid  40  are shown here for illustration sake; however, it is understood that the teachings of the invention may be incorporated into various sized and shaped containers  20  utilizing various engagement methods, and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the invention. 
     The embodiment of the container  20  shown in  FIG. 2  provides integrally-molded portions including a tapered cup-shaped body portion which provides a friction fit attachment between adjacent containers  20  when stacked. Each container  20  further includes a closed container bottom  15 , a container open top  17 , a container sidewall  19  and a male threaded container locking feature  22  which extends in an annular manner all along a top exterior annular edge of the container  20 . The container locking feature  22  is designed to mechanically retain a corresponding female threaded interior lid locking feature  44  molded into an inner bottom edge of a lid rim  42  of the lid  40 . Each lid  40  also possess a male threaded exterior lid locking feature  48  located subjacent to said interior lid locking feature  44  and said lid rim  42 . The interior lid locking feature  44  of each lid rim  42  retains superjacent and subjacent lid&#39;s  40  exterior lid locking feature  48  when engaged with each other as seen here. 
     Additionally, the aforementioned features of the system  10  allow the top-most container  20  in the stack of containers  20 , to be threadingly engaged with the bottom-most lid  40  in the stack of lids  40 , thereby resulting in a combined and organized unit as seen in  FIG. 1 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of containers  20  and lids  40  which utilize various other interlocking and stacking features  22 ,  44  and  48  inside and outside annular rings, and the like, can be incorporated into the teachings of the system  10 , and that only one (1) particular configuration is shown and described herein for purposes of clarity and disclosure, and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a perspective view of an alternate system  100  of the invention, is disclosed. The alternate system  100  includes alternate containers  120  and alternate lids  140  which snap together. The alternate containers  120  includes an alternate closed container bottom  124 , an alternate container open top  126 , an alternate container sidewall  128  provide tapering cup-shaped body portions which provides a friction fit attachment between adjacent alternate containers  120  when stacked. Each alternate container  120  further includes an alternate container locking feature  122  which extends in an annular manner outwardly all along a top circular edge of the alternate container  120 . The alternate container locking feature  122  is designed to mechanically retain a corresponding and opposingly biased alternate lid locking feature  144  molded into an inner bottom edge portion of an alternate lid rim portion  142  of the alternate lid  140 . The embodiment of the alternate lid  140  shown in  FIG. 5  provides a lid locking groove  148  formed in the alternate lid rim  142  in an annular manner which provides snapping engagement with the alternate lid locking feature  144  to retain superjacent and subjacent alternate lids  140  when stacked upon each other as seen here. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the system  10 , it would be provided as indicated in  FIG. 2  and capable of being joined as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The method of utilizing the system  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring an embodiment of the system  10  including a plurality of containers  20  and corresponding lids  40 ; preparing the system  10  for storage, until needed, by securing the containers  20  together by inserting the body portions of the containers  20  together and allowing the friction fit between the containers  20  to retain the containers  20  in a stacked form; engaging the lid rim portions  42  of the lids  40  and allowing the threaded lid locking features  44  to engage corresponding lid locking features  44 ; configuring the containers  20  and lids  40  into a single unit by threadingly engaging and attaching the bottom-most lid  40  in the stack of lids  40  to the top-most container  20  in the stack of containers  20  via respective lid locking feature  44  and container locking feature  24  portions; placing the system  10  into a drawer or cabinet until needed; removing a container  20  and lid  40  combination from the system  10  by disengaging the top-most lid  40  and the bottom-most container  20  from the stack; utilizing the container  20  and lid  40  in a normal manner to contain, transport, and consume a contained food or drink; returning the remaining portions of the system  10  to the drawer or cabinet; and, avoiding normal separation and disorganization of conventional containers and lids, afforded a user of the present invention  10 . 
     As the containers  20  and lids  40  are utilized, emptied, and washed, they are simply added back to the bottom and top of the stacked system  10 , respectively. 
     The method of utilizing the alternate system  100  would be accomplished in a similar manner as the preferred embodiment  10 , as provided in  FIG. 5  and capable of being stacked as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.