Patent Publication Number: US-2009223853-A1

Title: Interlocking container

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to an interlocking container. More particularly, the present invention relates to an interlocking container that has a wing provided on the exterior wall of a container body containing contents and fixes the other container body interlocked above the container body by means of the wing. 
     2. Related Art 
     In general, a container body containing food is molded by synthetic resin, heat-resistant glass, heat-resistant ceramics, etc. which are materials permitted for food storage. Among them, the product molded by the synthetic resin can be mass-produced, is low-priced, and is convenient to handle, as a result the product molded by the synthetic resin is most widely used. Locking devices are provided in a main body and a cover of the container in order to safely keep and store food stored in an airtight container and prevent the food from being leaked. 
     A plurality of suspension projections projecting outward from an edge of the container body are formed in the container body at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction. Locking wings which are rotatable up and down around a hinge are formed in the cover and coupling holes into which the suspension projections of the container body are inserted are formed in the locking wings. In the container, the suspension projections are elastically inserted into and coupled to the coupling holes of the locking wing by rotating and pressing each of the locking wings to the container body in a state in which an opening of the container body is covered with the cover. However, since the coupling holes of the locking wings are not completely coupled with the suspension projections of the container body, fastening force between the containers is loose, which results in the stored contents frequently being discharged to the outside in the known container. 
     In addition, it is very difficult to form the known container in multiple layers. As less people eat at home and the size of the family decreases, various foods are cooked in smaller portions more frequently than cooking one type of food in a large amount at home. Therefore, the number of kinds of the stored food increases. In this case, several containers are required rather than the container&#39;s own size. However, in the case when several containers are used, several containers occupy too much space inside of a refrigerator. As a result, a multi-layered container in which several container bodies can be interlocked while only one cover is used is required. However, in the case when the container is molded to interlock the containers in multiple layers, a packing must be disposed on each of the container bodies in addition to the cover in order to improve airtightness of each container body. The multi-layered container must have a structure in which the packing can be disposed on the cover and each container body. However, the known container does not have such a structure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is contrived to solve the above-mentioned problems. An object of the present invention is to provide an interlocking container that has grooves grooved at a projecting portion in a predetermined depth through the projecting portion formed on the exterior wall of a container body and a hill portion for closing a part of each of the grooves in the container body and fixation projecting pieces that are inserted into the grooves and are suspended by the hill portion to prevent food from being leaked in a wing. 
     Further, another object of the present invention is to provide an interlocking container that considers the aesthetics by disposing a packing in the projecting portion of the container body and the grooves formed on the exterior wall of the container body. 
     The present invention is contrived to achieve the above-mentioned objects. There is provided an interlocking container that includes a container body that includes a projecting portion bent downward, which is provided at the circumference of an exterior wall, a first groove grooved at an upper end of the projecting portion in a predetermined depth, and a hill portion that is provided at an entrance of the first groove and projects from an upper end of the projecting portion; a wing that includes a pair of hinges projecting at one side of the exterior wall, a support body hinge-coupled with the hinge, and a fixation projecting piece projecting on one end of the support body to form a predetermined angle to the support body, which fits in the first groove through the fixation projecting piece; and a cover that includes the projecting portion provided at the circumference of the exterior wall and the hill portion provided on the top surface of the projecting portion, which covers the upper part of the container body. 
     Preferably, the container body has a flexible packing provided in a second groove that is formed by the exterior wall and the projecting portion. 
     Preferably, the wing further includes a handle provided on one surface of the support body and the container body further includes a joining fixation portion that connects the hinge formed on one surface of the container body with the hinge formed on the other surface of the container body in order to fix the container body. 
     Preferably, the interlocking container is molded by a plastic material and is transparent. 
     Preferably, the cover includes a grippable handle mounted on the top surface thereof. 
     In one embodiment, an interlocking container comprises a container body having a lip provided proximate an upper portion of the container body and and a bottom provided proximate a lower portion of the container body. The lip defines an opening of the container body. The bottom is configured to be inserted into an opening of another container body to be placed below the container body. The interlocking container further includes a wing provided proximate the upper portion of the container body and having a latch. The interlocking container further includes projecting component provided proximate the lower portion of the container body. The projecting component has an upper groove and a lower groove, the upper groove being configured to receive a latch of a wing of the another container body to be placed below the container body, the lower groove having an elastic material therein to receive a lip of the another container body to be placed below the container body. 
     In yet another embodiment, the bottom of the container body has length and width that are smaller than length and width of the opening of the another container body. 
     In yet another embodiment, the opening of the container body is configured to receive a bottom of another container body to be placed on top of the container body, wherein the latch of the wing of the container body is configured to be secured to an upper groove of the another container body to be placed on top of the container body. 
     The present invention takes the following effects in accordance with the above-mentioned configuration. First, it is possible to remarkably improve a fastening force between containers interlocked through grooves formed in a container body and a fixation projecting pieces formed in a wing. It is possible to increase a lifespan of the interlocking container by preventing movement of the interlocking container and preventing a wearing phenomenon generated due to fiction between the containers through inserting a packing into a gap between the exterior wall and the projecting portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an interlocking container according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of an interlocking container according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a major part in a state before one surface of an interlocking container is joined according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a major part in a state after one surface of an interlocking container is joined according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a container body shown in  FIG. 2  taken along the line A-A′ according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a cover shown in  FIG. 2  taken along the line B-B′ according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an interlocking container according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First of all, we should note that in giving reference numerals to elements of each drawing, like reference numerals refer to like elements even though like elements are shown in different drawings. Further, in describing the present invention, well-known functions or constructions will not be described in detail since they may unnecessarily obscure the understanding of the present invention. Hereinafter, the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described, but it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the spirit and scope of the present invention are not limited thereto and various modifications and changes can be made. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an interlocking container according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of an interlocking container according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a major part in a state before one surface of an interlocking container is joined according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a major part in a state after one surface of an interlocking container is joined according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a container body shown in  FIG. 2  taken along the line A-A′ according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.  6  is a cross-sectional view of a cover shown in  FIG. 2  taken along the line B-B′ according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, an interlocking container according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 6 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the interlocking container  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a container body  110 , a wing  130 , and a cover  150 . 
     The container body  110  has a tub shape and is formed in a structure in which walls  112  are integrally provided at a circumference end of a top surface of a bottom  111 . Therefore, the container body  110  has a space having a predetermined size so as to store contents therein. Inner and outer edges of the container body  110  are preferably curved by considering aesthetic. 
     The container body  110  has a pair of hinges  113  disposed at exterior upper ends of sides thereof and is hinge-coupled with the wing  130  through the hinge  113 . Further, the container body  110  has joining fixation portions  114 , such that the hinges  113  are not easily broken even due to a small external shock. The joining fixation portions  114  projects in a predetermined thickness so as to interconnect the hinges  113  projecting on one surface and the other surface thereof. 
     The container body  110  has a projecting portion  115  bent downward, which is formed on an exterior lower periphery thereof. Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the container body  110  has first grooves  116  of a right triangle formed above the projecting portion  115  and the container body  110  fits in the wing  130  disposed in the other container body through the first grooves  116 .  FIG. 3  illustrates a state before the wing  130  is fitted into the first grooves  116  and  FIG. 4  illustrates a state after the wing  130  is fitted into the first grooves  116 . 
     The container body  110  has a hill portion  117  that projects from the top surface of the projecting portion  115  and closes a part of each of the first grooves  116 , which are formed at entrances of the first grooves  116  so as to further improve fit-coupling force with the wing  130 . In this case, the hill portion  117  preferably has a triangle pole shape or a semicircular pole shape, such that the wing  130  can easily slide to the first grooves  116 . Meanwhile, the first grooves  116  are not limited to the right triangle shape, but the first grooves  116  may have a general triangle shape or a semicircular shape. Further, it is apparent that each first groove  116  has a size equal to a length of each fit-in wing  130 . 
     The container body  110  has second grooves  118  grooved upward, which are formed below the first grooves  116  by the projecting portion  115 . Hereinafter, refer to  FIG. 5 . In the embodiment of the present invention, the second grooves  118  allows the container body to be coupled with an upper end of the other container body and secures the coupling force between the container bodies altogether with the first grooves  116 . The second grooves  118  may include a packing  119  filled up therein. Herein, the projecting portion  115 , the first groove  116 , and the second groove  118  may be collectively referred to as a projecting component. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the location of the wing and projecting portion on the container body can be reversed. For example, the wing is placed proximate a lower portion of the container body, and the projecting portion is placed proximate an upper portion of the container body. In such an embodiment, the cover (or lid) is provided with a wing that is configured to latch onto the projecting portion provided proximate the upper portion of the container body. In the embodiment of the present invention, the packing  119  serves to remove the movability while increasing airtightness between the container bodies. The packing  119  is preferably made of a rubber material having flexibility so as to prevent the lifespan of the second groove  118  from being shortened due to wearing of the second groove  118 , which may be generated by frequent fitting therein. 
     Meanwhile, the container body  110  also includes a bottom protrusion  120  protruding downward from a bottom surface of the bottom  111 . The bottom protrusion  120  is preferably formed on one periphery by considering easy standing of the container body  110 . When the container body  110  includes the bottom protrusion  120 , it is possible to prevent the entire bottom surface of the bottom  111  from being dirty due to outside wastes and when the container body  110  comes in contact with a cold material, etc., it is possible to prevent inner heat from being discharged through the bottom  111 . 
     As described above, the wing  130  is hinge-coupled with the pair of hinges  113  formed on one surface of the container body  110 . More specifically, the wing  130  is hinge-coupled with the hinges  113  by inserting protrusions formed at both ends of the wing  130  into grooves of the hinges  113 . Hereinafter, referring to  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the wing  130  coupled to the container body  110  will be described over all. First, a role and a disposing structure of the wing  130  are described. Thereafter, a shape of the wing  130  is described. The shape of the wing  130  is clearly shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 . Therefore, it is preferable to refer to  FIGS. 3 to 5  for description of the shape of the wing  130 . 
     The wing  130  serves to fix the other container body interlocked on the container body  110  in the embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, although the wing  130  is preferably provided on each side of the container body  110 , the embodiment of the present invention needs not to be limited thereto. This reason is that the wing  130  can sufficiently carry out the fixing role even by disposing the wings  130  at both sides of the container body  110 , which face each other. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , by considering that the container body  110  has a substantially rectangular shape, four wing portions including two first wing portions  131  in a horizontal direction and two second wing portions  132  in a vertical direction are mounted in the container body  110  as the wing  130 . 
     Next, the shape of the wing  130  will be described. The wing  130  includes a support body  133 , a handle  134 , and a fixation projecting piece  135  in the embodiment of the present invention. The support body  133  is a body forming a background of the wing  130  and is supported on the container body  110  by protrusions that are disposed at both ends thereof. The support body  133  includes a handle  134  and the fixation projecting piece  135  that project in different directions at one end of the support body. 
     The handle  134  is used as a handle to allow a user to easily operate the wing  130  by means of user&#39; hands. The handle  134  projects outwards. It is most preferable that the handle  134  projects upward in an outer diagonal direction by considering that the handle  134  may be easily broken due to a small external shock when the handle  134  excessively projects outwards, the handle  134  must be convenient to grip, while having an aesthetic appearance. Meanwhile, in the embodiment of the present invention, the handle  134  generally has a length equal to a length of the support body  133 , but the length of the handle  134  is not necessarily limited thereto. 
     The fixation projecting piece  135  is directly inserted into the first groove  116  of the container body  110  in the wing  130  and projects in a direction opposite to the handle  134 . The fixation projecting piece  135  preferably project in a perpendicular direction to the support body  133 . This reason is that the movability of the other container body can be more efficiently removed by allowing the fixation projecting piece  135  to be closely contacted with the other container body in this case. 
     The fixation projecting piece  135  has a structure in which one end of a bottom surface projects downward in the embodiment of the present invention. By this structure, it is possible to prevent the fixation projecting piece  135  from being separated from the first groove  116  after being inserted into the first groove  116 . 
     The cover  150  is used as a cover that closes an opened top part of the container body  110 . In the embodiment of the present invention, the cover  150  has a projecting portion  115  bent downward, which is formed on a side periphery thereof, and includes the hill portion  117  above the projecting portion  115  and the second groove  118  and the packing  119  below the projecting portion  115 . The projecting portion  115 , the hill portion  117 , the second groove  118 , and the packing  119  have been already described above. Therefore, the detailed description thereof will be herein omitted. 
     As described above, the interlocking container  100  according to the embodiment of the present invention is realized by interlocking the plurality of container bodies  110 . The container bodies  110  interlocked on each container body are fastened with each other by means of the wing  120  and an inner space of the uppermost container body  110  is closed by the cover  150 , whereby the interlocking container  100  can perform as the container. 
     The interlocking container  100  is preferably made of a light-weight material such as a plastic material by considering portability in the embodiment of the present invention. Further, the interlocking container  100  is preferably manufactured by a transparent material in order to observe the present state (i.e., deterioration or not) of the contents stored therein. 
     Meanwhile the interlocking container  100  preferably has a handle provided on the top surface of the cover  150  so as to be gripped for easy transport. Referring to  FIG. 7 , reference numeral  710  represents the handle and reference numeral  700  represents an interlocking container including the handle  710  according to another embodiment. 
     The spirit of the present invention has been just exemplified. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications, changes, and substitutions can be made without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention and the accompanying drawings are used not to limit but to describe the spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited only to the embodiments and the accompanying drawings. The protection scope of the present invention must be analyzed by the appended claims and it should be analyzed that all spirits within a scope equivalent thereto are included in the appended claims of the present invention. 
     The interlocking container can store various and many contents rather than a general container. Accordingly, it is expected that the interlocking container will be spread more widely than the general container hereinafter. Therefore, the interlocking container according to the present invention has high industrial availability.