Patent Publication Number: US-2018044062-A1

Title: Storage container and mounting system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to containment devices and more particularly pertains to a new containment device for allowing utilization of space adjacent to a bottom surface of shelving. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a container including a bottom wall and a perimeter wall that is attached to and extends upwardly from the perimeter wall. The perimeter wall has an upper edge defining an access opening extending into the container. A receiving mount has an upper wall with an upper surface. The receiving mount includes a first mating member. A second mating member is attached to the container. The second mating member releasably engages the first mating member such that the upper wall is positioned over the container when the upper wall is horizontally oriented. A coupler is attached to the upper surface of the upper wall. The coupler is configured to releasably adhere to a bottom surface of a shelf. The coupler comprises a residue free material such that no residue remains on the shelf when the coupler is removed from the shelf. The coupler comprises a silicone rubber pad. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a storage container and mounting system according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of a receiving mount of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a side in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, a new containment device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the storage container and mounting system  10  generally comprises a container  12  including a bottom wall  14  and a perimeter wall  16  that is attached to and extends upwardly from the perimeter wall  16 . The perimeter wall  16  has an upper edge  18  defining an access opening  20  extending into the container  12 . A cover  22  is removably coupled to the perimeter wall  16  and covers the access opening  20 . The container  12  may have any conventional size or shape as relating to those types of containers which are typically used for storing food. As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , containers  12  of various heights may be utilized though they will typically have similar lengths and widths for reasons which will become apparent below. The containers  12  may be comprised of conventional materials including plastics and glass though the cover will generally be comprised of either plastic or an elastomer. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 2 , a receiving mount  24  has an upper wall  26  having an upper surface  28 . The receiving mount  24  includes a first mating member  30  that may include a pair of flanges  32  attached to and extending downwardly from the upper wall  26 . The flanges  32  are positioned opposite of each other and each includes a lip  34  extending inwardly under the upper wall  26  such that a pair of ledges  36  is defined extending toward each other. 
     A second mating member  40  is attached to the container  12 . The second mating member  40  releasably engages the first mating member  30  such that the upper wall  26  is positioned over the container  12  when the upper wall  26  is horizontally oriented. The second mating member  40  may comprise one or more shoulders  42  positioned on the container  12  and configured to releasably engage the ledges  36 . The second mating member  40  may be positioned on the perimeter wall  16  adjacent to the upper edge  18  and extend completely around the container  12  or may include a pair of shoulders  42  positioned on opposite sides of the container  12 . Alternatively, the second mating member  40  may be formed by a peripheral edge of the cover  22 . 
     A coupler  44  is attached to the upper surface  28  of the upper wall  26  and is configured to releasably adhere to a bottom surface  52  of a shelf  50 . The shelf  50  may be any conventional shelf however typically the shelf will be one found within a refrigerator and be comprised of a smooth plastic material. The coupler  44  comprises a residue free material such that no residue remains on the shelf  50  when the coupler  44  is removed from the shelf  50 . More particularly, the couple  44   r  may comprise a silicone rubber pad. Such materials are known to have adhering properties which allow them to be adhered to many different types of surfaces due to the frictional characteristics of silicone rubbers. Since a glue is not being utilized, no residue will remain when the coupler  44  is removed from the shelve  50  and it may be re-used as long as it is retained in a cleaned condition. A removable backing  46  may be positioned on the coupler  44  to prevent debris, dust and the like from adhering to the coupler. The coupler  44  may be non-removably or removably coupled to the receiving mount  24 . 
     In use, the coupler  44  is attached to the bottom surface  52  of a shelf  50  such that the receiving mount  24  is secured to the shelf  50 . The receiving mount  24  will be positioned such that an open space between the ledges  36  faces outwardly. The ledges  36  may be continued to include a rear ledge  38  which will prevent the second mating  40  member from being fully extended through the receiving mount  24 . The user then utilizes the container  12  in a conventional manner, using the cover  22  if desired, and then slides the container  12  into the receiving member  24  so that the first  30  and second  40  mating members engage and suspend the container  12  from the shelf  50  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The silicone rubber pad, or coupler  44 , allows the receiving mount  24  to be easily repositioned as needed. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.