Patent Publication Number: US-2003234200-A1

Title: Stackable container

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates generally to containers for storing toys and the like therein, and particularly to such containers which are stackable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Many kinds of containers exist for storing toys and the like therein. Containers range from wooden toy chests to small plastic boxes for placing small toys and play objects therein. A problem with many toy containers is their volume: the containers themselves take up a lot of space in a child&#39;s room or in a vehicle during travel, for example.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] The present invention seeks to provide improved containers for storing toys, play objects and the like therein. The containers of the invention are stackable and thus conserve storage space in a room or vehicle. The containers also reducing space during transportation from one point to another and during storage in warehouses.  
       [0004] There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the invention a container comprising a storage compartment formed with an arcuate outer surface, and a cover adapted to close the storage compartment, the cover being formed with an arcuate outer surface having a complementary shape nestable with the outer surface of the storage compartment, such that the storage compartment of one container is stackable with the cover of another container.  
       [0005] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention the outer surface of the storage compartment is concave and the outer surface of the cover is convex.  
       [0006] Further in accordance with an embodiment of the invention the cover comprises one or more support lugs protruding therefrom adapted to abut against a portion of the storage compartment of one container stacked on the cover of another container.  
       [0007] Still further in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a plurality of the support lugs are positioned (e.g., symmetrically) on opposite sides of the cover. The support lugs may be spaced axially from one another on the cover.  
       [0008] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention the storage compartment and the cover comprise mating fasteners adapted to fasten the storage compartment with the cover. The support lugs may be positioned adjacent the fasteners. The cover may or may not be hinged to the storage compartment.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009] The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:  
     [0010]FIG. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a stackable container, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and  
     [0011]FIG. 2 is a simplified pictorial illustration of two containers of FIG. 1 stacked one on top of another. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0012] Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 2, which illustrate a container  10 , constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
     [0013] Container  10  may be made of any suitable material, such as but not limited to, metal or plastic. Container  10  may comprise a storage compartment  12  formed with an arcuate outer surface  14  (the lower surface in the sense of the drawings). Container  10  may also comprise a cover  16 , which may be hinged to storage compartment  12  with a hinged connection  18 , for closing and opening storage compartment  12 . Alternatively, cover  16  may be separate from storage compartment  12  and snugly fit therewith. Cover  16  may be formed with an arcuate outer surface  20  (the upper surface in the sense of the drawings) having a complementary shape nestable with the outer surface  14  of storage compartment  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, the outer surface  14  of storage compartment  12  is concave and the outer surface  20  of cover  16  is convex. However, within the scope of the invention, the outer surface  14  of storage compartment  12  may be convex and the outer surface  20  of cover  16  may be concave. As seen in FIG. 2, containers  10  may be stacked together, e.g., one on top of another, wherein the storage compartment  12  of one container  10  nests with the cover  16  of another container  10 . Any amount of containers may be stacked adjacent one another. Alternatively, the arcuate nesting surfaces of the containers may comprise side surfaces of the storage compartment  12  and/or cover  16 , for side-by-side stacking of the containers.  
     [0014] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, cover  16  includes one or more support lugs  22  protruding therefrom. As seen in FIG. 2, the support lugs  22  may abut against a portion of the storage compartment  12  of one container  10  stacked on top of the cover  16  of another container  10 . The support lugs may bear at least a portion of the weight of the upper container or containers  10 . The support lugs  22  may be positioned symmetrically on opposite sides of cover  16 . Additionally, the support lugs  22  may be spaced axially from one another on cover  16 , as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.  
     [0015] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, storage compartment  12  and cover  16  may comprise mating fasteners  24  and  26  for fastening storage compartment  12  with cover  16 . The support lugs  22  may be positioned adjacent fasteners  24  and  26 . Fasteners  24  and  26  may comprise, without limitation, a hasp and a staple, suitable for locking with a padlock (not shown), for example.  
     [0016] It will be appreciated by person skilled in the art, that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described herein above. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims that follow: