Patent Publication Number: US-2006000841-A1

Title: Container

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS AND PATENT APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims priority back to U.S. Provisional Application 60/574,411 filed May 26, 2004, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to the field of container constructions in general, and more particularly to a combination container and closure.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      As can be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,514,379, 1,768,771 2,738,900, 2,978,142, 4,844,263, 5,699,925, 5,706,974, and D416,438, the prior art is replete with various container constructions, including those that facilitate stacking of containers.  
      While various prior art constructions of containers and closures are known, the prior art fails to disclose a container that (1) allows a user to easily scoop the entire contents of the container and (2) provides adequate structure to easily stack the containers.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved container. This and other objects may be achieved by a container comprising a body portion having a first at least one wall and a recessed base that defines a circumferential channel, whereby the channel is adapted to receive a bucket of a scoop so that the bucket fits within the channel. The circumferential channel circumnavigates the perimeter of the recessed base. The container further comprises a closure that is adapted to be releasably sealed on the body portion.  
      The scoop has a handle coupled to a bucket. A radius of the bucket is substantially equal to the radius of the circumferential channel so that the bucket can be received by the channel and allow scooping of the container contents.  
      The closure can also comprise a second at least one side wall, a top wall coupled to the second at least one side wall, and an upwardly extending protrusion shaped and sized to be received by a recessed base of another container. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which refers to the appended figures, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container embodying the design of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the container shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the container shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectioned perspective view along line  4 - 4  of the container shown in  FIG. 1 , and illustrating a scoop fit in a circumferential channel in the base of the container;  
       FIG. 5  is a side cross-sectional view along line  5 - 5  of the container shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a container embodying the design of the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of the container shown in  FIG. 6 ;  
       FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of the container shown in  FIG. 6 ;  
       FIG. 9  is a top view of the container shown in  FIG. 6 ;  
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectioned perspective view along line  10 - 10  of the container shown in  FIG. 6 , and illustrating a scoop fit in a circumferential channel in the base of the container;  
       FIG. 11  is a side cross-sectional view along line  11 - 11  of the container shown in  FIG. 9 ;  
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a container embodying the design of the present invention;  
       FIG. 13  is a front elevation view of the container shown in  FIG. 12 ;  
       FIG. 14  is a top view of the container shown in  FIG. 12 ;  
       FIG. 15  is a cross-sectioned perspective view along line  15 - 15  of the container shown in  FIG. 12 , and illustrating a scoop fit in a circumferential channel in the base of the container;  
       FIG. 16  is a side cross-sectional view along line  16 - 16  of the container shown in  FIG. 14 ;  
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a container embodying the design of the present invention;  
       FIG. 18  is a front elevation view of the container shown in  FIG. 17 ;  
       FIG. 19  is a side cross-sectional view along line  19 - 19  of the container shown in  FIG. 17  and having a scoop fit against the side and bottom of the container. 
    
    
      Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the invention.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention, which broader aspects are embodied in the exemplary construction. A repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings represents the same or analogous features or elements of the invention.  
      With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the new and improved container generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. The container  10  may be used for packaging granulated dry goods. The container is generally formed from two parts. The first part is a body portion  20  and the second is a closure  40  that is removably received on body portion  20 . Body portion  20  and closure  40  may be molded of a suitable plastic material, which may be blow molded, by extrusion or injection, so that each may be a unitary member of uniform wall thickness. Non-uniform thicknesses may also be used. Suitable plastics for forming the container may include, but are not limited to, various polymers such as polystyrene, polystyrene-acrylonitile, acrylonitile-butadiene-styrene, styrene-maleicanhydride, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylcyclohexane, and blends thereof.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , body portion  20  is formed from a bottom wall  22  and a generally cylindrical sidewall  24 . The generally cylindrical sidewall  24  and bottom wall  22  are integrally formed and connect by a rounded edge  26  ( FIG. 2 ). The rounded edge extends inwardly toward bottom wall  22  and forms a circumferential heel  28  on which the container rests when standing upright and which defines a recess  30  that opens downwardly and connects to heel  28 . The recess defined by the bottom wall is generally circular in shape, but it may take on other shapes, such as square, oval, etc.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the inside surface  32  of the bottom wall projects upward from heel  28  and together with the heel and sidewall define a circumferential channel  34  around bottom wall  22 . It should be understood that the cross-section of channel  34  may be formed in other shapes, for example square, rectangular, oval, etc.  
      Still referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , sidewall  24  also contains an inwardly recessed circumferential portion  41  on its outer circumference that is proximate a top edge  42 . The inwardly recessed portion connects to the outer surface of the wall by an inwardly sloping shoulder  44  that forms a closure stop that receives a lower lip  46  of the closure wall. The recessed portion contains an outwardly projecting shoulder  48  that forms part of a locking mechanism for securing the closure to the body portion.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , the closure comprises a horizontal top wall  50  joined to a generally cylindrical vertical sidewall  52  by a rounded corner  54 . In some embodiments, ribs (not shown) may be coupled to the underside of top wall  50  and sidewall  52  to provide structural stability to the closure and to also prevent flexing of the closure, especially when multiple filled containers are stacked one upon the other as described below. A generally circular recessed portion  56  terminating in a horizontally flat circular surface  57  is centrally located in the horizontal top wall. Recessed portion  56  is sized and shaped to receive another box portion&#39;s heel so that multiple containers can be stacked ( FIG. 5 ). The recessed portion defines a protrusion  58  in the under side of closure  40 . It should be understood that recessed portion  56  may be formed in any shape so long as the mating container&#39;s heel is sized and shaped to be received by the recessed portion. Furthermore, the closure may also be formed without recessed portion  56  and still function to allow multiple containers to stack on each other. An inwardly extending flange  60 , formed circumferentially on the inner circumference of closure sidewall  52 , snaps over the outwardly projecting shoulder  48  so that closure  40  can be easily removed from and resealed on body portion  20 .  
      A releasable seal (not shown) may be attached to lip  42  to seal the contents in the container. The releasable seal also allows for vacuum packaging of the contents in container  10  and provides an anti-tamper inner liner. One skilled in the art of food packaging will be familiar with such releasably attached packaging seals. Specifically, adhesive or heat may be used to attach a seal formed of polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, foil, or other suitable material to lip  42  to form an airtight seal. Therefore, removal of closure  40  will not disturb the seal unless the releasable seal is cut or removed.  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , a dispensing utensil  38  may be a scoop molded from a suitable plastic material, which may be blow molded, by extrusion or injection. Suitable plastics for forming the scoop include, but are not limited to, various polymers such as polystyrene, polystyrene-acrylonitile, acrylonitile-butadiene-styrene, styrene-maleicanhydride, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylcyclohexane, and blends thereof. Dispensing utensil  38  has a generally flat handle  62  attached to or integrally formed with a cylindrical bucket  64 . A rib (not shown) may be utilized and connected to the underside of the handle and the cylindrical bucket to provide structural stability to the scoop. The cylindrical bucket is closed at one end  66  and opened at a second end  68 . Bucket  64  may also be formed in many other shapes, for example square, rectangular, oval, etc.  
      In addition to allowing containers to be stacked, heel  28  serves a second purpose. The heel and recessed bottom wall form circumferential channel  34  at the bottom of the body portion. The circumferential channel  34  circumnavigates the perimeter of the recessed bottom wall  22 . The channel is sized and shaped to receive the scoop&#39;s cylindrical bucket  64 . In particular, bucket radius R 2  is approximately equal to or smaller than radius R 1  of the inside surface  36  of circumferential channel  34 . Channel  34  has a circular cross-section, however, it should be understood that channel  34  and bucket  64  may be formed in other shapes, for example square, oval or rectangular, so long as the shape of the scoop is substantially similar to that of the channel.  
      Recess  30  causes the granulated contents in the container to gravitate into the channel as the product is being used up. Therefore, the bucket of the scoop fits into the channel and allows the user to scoop out substantially all the granulated contents in the container with little effort. Such a channel/bucket arrangement would also allow the container to be utilized for liquid containment and dispensing if desired. No matter what shape channel  34  is, bucket  64  should be sized and shaped to be received in channel  34 . For example, a square-shaped channel would require a square bucket that would fit in the channel. In particular, the scoop bucket should be shaped to facilitate scooping the contents of the container out of channel  34  and is most often the same shape as the channel.  
      In another embodiment as shown in  FIG. 6 , a new and improved container generally designated by the reference numeral  110  will be described. The container is generally formed from two parts: the first is a body portion  120  and the second is a closure  140  that is removably received on body portion  120 . Body portion  120  and closure  140  may be molded of a suitable plastic material, which may be blow molded, by extrusion or injection, so that each may be a unitary member of uniform wall thickness. Non-uniform thicknesses may also be used. Suitable plastics for forming the container may include, but are not limited to, various polymers such as polystyrene, polystyrene-acrylonitile, acrylonitile-butadiene-styrene, styrene-maleicanhydride, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylcyclohexane, and blends thereof.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 10 , body portion  120  is formed from a bottom wall  122  and a generally oval shaped sidewall  124 . That is, body portion  120  has a major axis radius R 10  and a minor axis radius R 11  that is smaller than R 10 . The generally oval sidewall  124  and bottom wall  122  are integrally formed and connect by a rounded edge  126 . The rounded edge extends inwardly toward bottom wall  122  and forms a circumferential heel  128  on which the container rests when standing upright and which defines a recess  130  that opens downwardly and connects to heel  128 . The recess defined by the bottom wall is generally oval in shape, but it may take on other shapes, such as square, round, etc.  
      An inside surface  132  of the bottom wall projects upward from heel  128  and together with the heel and sidewall define an oval shaped circumferential channel  134  around bottom wall  122 . It should be understood that the cross-section of channel  134  may be formed in other shapes, for example square, rectangular, round, etc. Sidewall  124  also contains an outwardly extending flange  141  ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ) on its outer circumference that is proximate a top edge  142 .  
      Referring to the figures, and in particular  FIGS. 8-10 , the closure comprises a horizontal top wall  150  joined to a generally cylindrical vertical sidewall  152  by a rounded corner  154 . In some embodiments, ribs (not shown) may be coupled to the underside of top wall  150  and sidewall  152  to provide structural stability to the closure and to also prevent flexing of the closure, especially when multiple filled containers are stacked one upon the other as described below. It should be understood that sidewall  152  would be extended to accommodate such ribs.  
      A generally oval protrusion  156  terminating in a horizontally flat circular surface  157  is centrally located in the horizontal top wall. Protrusion  156  is sized and shaped to fit within another container&#39;s recessed portion  130  so that multiple containers can be stacked ( FIG. 1 ). Protrusion  156  defines a recessed portion  158  in the under side of closure  140 . It should be understood that protrusion  156  may be formed in any shape so long as the mating container&#39;s recessed bottom  130  is sized and shaped to receive the projecting portion. Furthermore, the closure may also be formed without recessed portion  158  and still function to allow multiple containers to stack on each other. An inwardly extending flange  160  ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ), formed circumferentially on the inner circumference of closure sidewall  152 , snaps over the outwardly projecting flange  141  so that closure  140  can be easily removed from and resealed on body portion  120 .  
      A releasable seal (not shown) may be attached to lip  142  to seal the contents in the container. The releasable seal also allows for vacuum packaging of the contents in container  110  and provides an anti-tamper inner liner. One skilled in the art of food packaging will be familiar with such releasably attached packaging seals. Specifically, adhesive or heat may be used to attach a seal formed of polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, foil, or other suitable material to lip  142  to form an airtight seal. Therefore, removal of closure  140  will not disturb the seal unless the releasable seal is cut or removed.  
      Referring to  FIG. 10 , a dispensing utensil  138  may be a scoop molded from a suitable plastic material, which may be blow molded, by extrusion or injection. Suitable plastics for forming the scoop include, but are not limited to, various polymers such as polystyrene, polystyrene-acrylonitile, acrylonitile-butadiene-styrene, styrene-maleicanhydride, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylcyclohexane, and blends thereof. Dispensing utensil  138  has a generally flat handle  162  attached to or integrally formed with a generally cylindrical bucket  164 . A rib (not shown) may be utilized and connected to the underside of the handle and the cylindrical bucket to provide structural stability to the scoop. The cylindrical bucket is closed at one end  166  and opened at a second end  168 . Bucket  164  may also be formed in many other shapes, for example square, rectangular, oval, etc.  
      In addition to allowing containers to be stacked, recessed bottom portion  130  serves a second purpose. The recessed bottom portion, the rounded corner and sidewall form circumferential channel  134  at the bottom of the body portion. The circumferential channel  134  circumnavigates the perimeter of the recessed bottom wall  122 . The channel is sized and shaped to receive the scoop&#39;s cylindrical bucket  164 . In particular, bucket radius R 20  is approximately equal to or smaller than radius R 21  of the inside surface  170  of circumferential channel  134 . Channel  134  has a circular cross-section, however, it should be understood that channel  134  and scoop bucket  164  may be formed in other shapes, for example square, oval or rectangular, so long as the shape of the scoop is substantially similar to that of the channel.  
      Recessed portion  130  causes the granulated contents in the container to gravitate into the channel as the product is being used up. Therefore, the bucket fits into the channel and allows the user to scoop out substantially all the granulated contents in the container with little effort (such a channel/bucket arrangement would also allow the container to be utilized for liquid containment and dispensing if desired.). No matter what shape channel  134  is, bucket  164  should be sized and shaped to be received in channel  134 . For example, a square-shaped channel would require a square shaped bucket that would fit in the channel. In particular, the scoop bucket should be shaped to facilitate scooping the contents of the container out of channel  134  and is most often the same shape as the channel.  
      In yet another embodiment and with reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 12 , an improved container generally designated by the reference numeral  210  will be described. The container  210  may be used for packaging granulated dry goods. The container is generally formed from two parts: the first part is a box portion  220  containing a recessed bottom wall and the second is a closure  240  containing a stacking member protruding from the top wall. Box portion  220  is adapted for the removable receipt of closure  240 . Box portion  220  and closure  240  may be molded of a suitable plastic material, which may be blow molded, by extrusion or injection, so that each may be a unitary member of uniform wall thickness. Non-uniform thicknesses may also be used. Suitable plastics for forming the container may include, but are not limited to, various polymers such as polystyrene, polystyrene-acrylonitile, acrylonitile-butadiene-styrene, styrene-maleicanhydride, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylcyclohexane, and blends thereof.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 12, 13  and  15 , box portion  220  is formed from a bottom wall  212 , front wall  214 , back wall  216 , and opposing side walls  218  and  219  (shown in  FIG. 13 ). The front and back walls are connected to the side walls by rounded corners  222  ( FIG. 12 ), and are integrally formed with the bottom wall and connected by a rounded edge  224  ( FIG. 13 ). The rounded edge extends inwardly toward recessed bottom wall  212  and forms a circumferential heel  226  ( FIG. 15 ) on which the container rests when standing upright. The bottom wall defines a recess  230  ( FIGS. 15 and 16 ) that opens downwardly and connects to heel  226 . The recess defined by the bottom is wall shown as being generally circular in shape, but it may take on other shapes, such as square, oval, rectangular, etc.  
      The inside surface  232  of the circular bottom wall projects upward from heel  226  and together with the heel, front, back, and side walls define a circumferential channel  234  around bottom wall  212 . As shown in  FIG. 16 , channel  234  has a circular cross-section with a base  236  having a radius R 30  ( FIG. 16 ). Radius R 30  is substantially equal to or greater than the radius R 32  ( FIG. 15 ) of a dispensing utensil  260  packaged in container  210 . It should be understood that the cross-section of channel  234  may be formed in other shapes, for example square, rectangular, oval, etc. Dispensing utensil  260  is similar to the scoops shown in  FIGS. 1-11  and will not be described again in detail herein.  
      The front, back, and side walls terminate at a circular top portion  238  ( FIGS. 15 and 16 ) that releasably receives closure  240 . The circular top portion connects to rounded corners  222  by an inwardly sloping shoulder  228 . Circular top portion  238  contains an outwardly projecting circumferential flange  242  that forms part of a locking mechanism for securing the closure to the box portion.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 13-15 , the closure comprises a horizontal top wall  244  joined to a vertical side wall  246  by a rounded corner  248 . In some embodiments, ribs (not shown) may be coupled to the underside of vertical wall  246  and horizontal top wall  244  to provide structural stability to the closure and prevent flexing of closure  40 , especially when multiple filled containers are stacked one upon the other as shown in  FIG. 16 . It should be understood that if ribs are used, the height of vertical wall  246  would be increased to accommodate such ribs. A generally circular upwardly projecting portion  250  terminating in a horizontally flat top surface  252  is centrally located in the horizontal flat top surface. The horizontal flat top surface is sized and shaped to fit into another box portion&#39;s recessed bottom wall so that multiple containers can be stacked ( FIG. 16 ). The upwardly projecting circular portion defines a recess  254  in the under side of closure  240 . Closure  240  may also be formed without recess  254 . It should be understood to one of ordinary skill in the art that upwardly projecting portion  250  may be formed in any shape so long as the mating container&#39;s recessed bottom is sized and shaped to receive the projecting portion.  
      Closure vertical wall  246  defines an inwardly pointing flange  256  that releasably secures closure  240  to circular top portion  238 . That is, flange  256  is wedge-shaped with the wide part of the wedge closest to a bottom edge  258  of closure vertical wall  246 . Thus, the wedge forms a locking member that snaps over the outwardly projecting circumferential flange  242  so that closure  240  can be easily removed from and resealed on box portion  220 .  
      As with the above described embodiments, a releasable seal (not shown) may be attached to an upper lip  262  of circular top portion  238  to seal the contents in the container. The releasable seal also allows for vacuum packaging of the contents in container  210  and provides an anti-tamper inner liner. One skilled in the art of food packaging will be familiar with such releasably attached packaging seals. Specifically, adhesive or heat may be used to attach a seal formed of polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, foil, or other suitable material to lip  262  to form an airtight seal. Therefore, removal of closure  240  will not disturb the seal unless the releasable seal is cut or removed.  
      In addition to allowing containers to be stacked, recessed bottom wall  212  serves a second purpose. As previously pointed out, the recessed bottom wall forms circumferential channel  234  at the bottom of the box portion. The circumferential channel  234  circumnavigates the perimeter of the recessed bottom wall  222 . The channel is sized and shaped to receive a cylindrical bucket  264  of dispensing utensil  260 . In particular, the radius R 32  of cylindrical bucket  264  ( FIG. 15 ) is approximately equal to or smaller than the radius of curvature R 30  ( FIG. 16 ) of the inside surface  236  of circumferential channel  234 . Thus, because recess  230  causes the granulated contents to gravitate into the channel as the product is being used up, the channel bucket fit allows the user to scoop out substantially all the granulated contents in the container with little effort (such a channel/bucket arrangement would also allow the container to be utilized for liquid containment and dispensing if desired.). No matter what shape channel  234  is, bucket  264  should be sized and shaped to be received in the channel. For example, a square-shaped channel would require a square bucket. In particular, the scoop bucket should be shaped to facilitate scooping the contents of the container out of channel  234  and is most often the same shape as the cross-section of the channel.  
      In a further embodiment shown in  FIGS. 17-19 , a new and improved container generally designated by the reference numeral  310  will be described. Container  310  may be used for packaging granulated dry goods, and the container is generally formed from two parts. The first part is a body portion  320  and the second is a closure  340  that is removably received on body portion  320 . Body portion  320  and closure  340  may be molded of a suitable plastic material, which may be blow molded, by extrusion or injection, so that each may be a unitary member of uniform wall thickness. Non-uniform thicknesses may also be used. Suitable plastics for forming the container may include, but are not limited to, various polymers such as polystyrene, polystyrene-acrylonitile, acrylonitile-butadiene-styrene, styrene-maleicanhydride, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylcyclohexane, and blends thereof.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 17 and 18 , body portion  320  is formed having a generally cylindrical first portion  312  and a generally cylindrical second portion  314 , wherein the diameter of the second portion is smaller than that of first portion  312 . Generally cylindrical first portion  312  connects to generally cylindrical second portion  314  by an inwardly sloping circumferential shoulder  316  and to a flat bottom wall  318  by a rounded corner  322 . Generally cylindrical second portion  314  connects to a generally horizontal flange  324  by an outwardly sloping shoulder  326  that is used to releasably retain closure  340  on a mouth  328  ( FIG. 19 ) of the container.  
      Referring to the figures, and in particular  FIG. 19 , the closure comprises a horizontal top wall  330  joined to a generally cylindrical vertical sidewall  332  by a rounded corner  334 . An inwardly extending flange  336 , formed circumferentially on the inner circumference of closure vertical wall  332 , snaps over the outwardly projecting flange  324  so that closure  340  can be easily removed from and resealed on body portion  320 .  
      A releasable seal (not shown) may be attached to a lip  342  to seal the contents in the container. The releasable seal also allows for vacuum packaging of the contents in container  310  and provides an anti-tamper inner liner. One skilled in the art of food packaging will be familiar with such releasably attached packaging seals. Specifically, adhesive or heat may be used to attach a seal formed of polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, foil, or other suitable material to lip  342  to form an airtight seal. Therefore, removal of closure  340  will not disturb the seal unless the releasable seal is cut or removed.  
      A dispensing utensil  380  may be a scoop having a generally flat handle  382  attached to or integrally formed with a cylindrical bucket  384 . A rib (not shown) may be utilized and connected to the underside of the handle and the cylindrical bucket to provide structural stability to the scoop. Scoop  380  is similar in design to that described in the previous embodiments and a detailed discussion of the scoop is not repeated herein.  
      Container first cylindrical portion, rounded corner  322  and bottom wall  318  are sized to generally form an arcuate inner surface having a radius R 40  that is substantially similar to a portion of the bucket radius R 42  to allow the user to scoop out the granulated contents in the container with little effort. Although bottom wall  318  does not form a circumferential channel, the similar radius of the container walls to that of the scoop bucket assists in scooping the contents of the container. While the embodiment depicts a flat bottom wall  318 , it should be understood that bottom wall  318  may also define a recessed portion as shown and described in the previous embodiments. That is, container  320  may be formed with a recessed bottom wall portion and a protruding structure on closure  340  to assist in scooping and stacking of the container as described in previous embodiments.  
      These and other modifications and variations to the present invention may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged both in whole or in part. For example the embodiment of  FIGS. 6-16  may be formed with a closure having a recessed portion similar to that shown in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5  instead of a protruding portion so that the recessed portion receives a heel of another container to aide in stacking. Furthermore, any one of the embodiments can be formed with or without a circumferential channel. It should also be understood that the container body portion can be formed in any number of shapes as desired by the market and as conducive for the product packaged in the container. For example, the container shape may include, but is not limited to, a square, polygonal or triangular, and may also include recessed wall portions that vary the cross-section area of the container body portion. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the invention so further described in such appended claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.