Patent Publication Number: US-11377257-B2

Title: Container set having a locking structure

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application No. 108148448, filed on Dec. 30, 2019, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a container set, and more particularly to a container set having a locking structure. 
     BACKGROUND 
     For convenience, a container set for portable use, having a number of containers (e.g., cups, dishes etc.) of different sizes stacked and received in a case, is commonly available. However, in use, the containers may not be cleaned immediately after use. The used containers must be stacked and stowed, then taken home and washed. Consequently, poor sealing properties of the case can lead to a problem of leakage from the used cups and dishes, which may also experience unwanted vibration and agitation during transport, lacking secure fixing within the case. 
     In addition, the containers not being collapsible results in a bulky profile for the set, inconveniencing users. 
     A container set of the present invention provides a locking structure enabling containers therein to firmly engage with a cover and a base and preventing liquid leakage therefrom. The locking structure may also stabilize the containers, and utensils may be further secured in the stowed containers. Finally, the containers within the container set are collapsible, optimizing space utilization of the container set. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the invention, the invention provides a container set including a cover and base. The cover has a cover sealing member of elastic material protruding from a cover peripheral edge of the cover to engage the base. 
     In one aspect of the invention, the cover sealing member protrudes outward along the cover peripheral edge to engage an inner surface of the base. 
     In one aspect of the invention, the inner surface of the base has a base groove to allow the cover sealing member to engage the base groove when the cover engages the base. 
     In one aspect of the invention, the container set further includes a first container having a container edge to allow the first container to engage an inner surface of the cover. 
     In one aspect of the invention, the cover sealing member extends along the cover peripheral edge and protrudes inward, and the container edge extends along a peripheral edge of the first container and protrudes outward to allow the first container to engage the cover through an engagement between the container edge and the cover sealing member. 
     In one aspect of the invention, the container edge, the cover sealing member and the base groove constitute an interlocking structure. 
     In one aspect of the invention, when the container edge engages the cover sealing member and when the cover sealing member engages the base groove, both the container edge and the base groove abut against the cover sealing member so that a seal is formed by the interlocking structure resulting from elastic deformation of the cover sealing member. 
     In one aspect of the invention, the container set further includes a second container placed between the first container and the cover. 
     In one aspect of the invention, an inner surface of the cover sealing member forms a cover groove extending along the cover peripheral edge, and when the first container engages the cover, the container edge engages the cover groove. 
     In one aspect of the invention, the cover groove is defined by at least one inner projection of the cover sealing member and the inner surface of the cover. 
     In one aspect of the invention, the elastic material is silicon rubber. 
     In one aspect of the invention, the elastic material is attached to the cover sealing member by coating. 
     In one aspect of the invention, the first container and the second container are foldable, and each of the first container and the second container includes a bottom portion and a top portion made of a first material, a middle portion made of a second material and having at least two folding segments, wherein the middle portion is located between the bottom portion and the top portion and connected to a top edge of the bottom portion and a bottom edge of the top portion respectively, and the first material has a higher Young&#39;s modulus than that of the second material. 
     In one aspect of the invention, the second material is silicon rubber. 
     In one aspect of the invention, the at least two folding segments comprise a first folding segment and a second folding segment, wherein the first folding segment is located adjacent to a position where the middle portion and the bottom portion join, and the second folding segment is located adjacent to a position where the middle portion and the top portion join, and wherein when the first container and the second container are folded, the first folding segment and the second folding segment are elastically deformed so that the bottom portion is folded and received at an inner side of the top portion, and the middle portion is folded between the top portion and the bottom portion. 
     In one aspect of the invention, the cover has a gas valve. 
     In one aspect of the invention, the container set further includes at least one utensil placed between the first container and the base. 
     To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the features of the invention and carry out the claimed invention, detailed description for the embodiments is provided along with the drawings. The description only serves to describe the preferable embodiments of the invention and does not impose any restrictions thereon. Any modifications or variations made in the same spirit of the invention shall lie within the scope of protection of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container set of a preferable embodiment of the invention after the container set is assembled. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the container set taken along line A-A in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partially enlarged view of a portion B shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the container set of the other preferable embodiment of the invention, which is based on  FIG. 1  with second container and utensils added. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial enlarged view of a portion C shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the container set shown in  FIG. 4  after being assembled. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of the container shown in  FIG. 4  after being developed. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the container shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a partial enlarged view of a portion D shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a container set  1  in accordance with one preferable embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the container set  1  includes a cover  11  and a base  12 . Although the cross sections of each cover  11  and the base  12  shown in the figures are circular, they can be of various shapes, such as polygonal, circular, and elliptical. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the container set  1  taken along line A-A in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a partially enlarged view of a portion B shown in  FIG. 2 , wherein a cover sealing member  111  made of elastic material protrudes along a cover peripheral edge  113  of the cover  11 . 
     In the embodiment, the cover sealing member  111  may be attached to the cover peripheral edge  113  by gluing, clamping, or coating. Preferably, the cover sealing member  111  is attached to the cover peripheral edge  113  by coating, thereby a seal is formed between the cover sealing member  111  and the cover peripheral edge  113  due to properties of the elastic material, so as to prevent mold or dust between the cover sealing member  111  and the cover peripheral edge  113  and to prevent the cover sealing member  111  from being separated from the cover peripheral edge  113 . The elastic material may be silicone rubber or rubber. Preferably, the elastic material is silicone rubber. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the cover sealing member  111  protrudes from the cover peripheral edge  113  of the cover  11 , and the cover  11  can engage the base  12  through the cover sealing member  111  to form a sealed container. In the embodiment, the cover sealing member  111  forms an outer projection  1111  having a substantially curved cross section. In addition, as shown in  FIG. 3 , an outer diameter of the cover peripheral edge  113  of the cover  11  is slightly smaller than an outer diameter of a peripheral edge of the base  12 , so that the cover  11  can engage an inner surface of the base  12  through the cover sealing member  111  that protrudes outward. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , in the embodiment, the inner surface of the base  12 , which is adjacent to the peripheral edge of the base  12 , has a base groove  121  extending along the peripheral edge of the base  12 . When the cover  11  engages the base  12 , the cover sealing member  111  can engage the base groove  121 . 
     The base groove  121  of the base  12  further includes a projection  1211  which has a substantially curved cross section. When the cover  11  engages the base  12 , the outer projection  1111  of the cover sealing member  111  is engaged between the base groove  121  and the projection  1211 . In such case, the outer projection  1111  of the cover sealing member  111  is elastically deformed due to the compression by the projection  1211  and the base groove  121 , so that the outer projection  1111  of the cover sealing member  111  is subject to an upward holding force (from the base groove  121 ) and a downward holding force (from the projection  1211 ) to create the seal between the cover  11  and the base  12 . 
     In the embodiment, the projection  1211  is integrally formed with the base groove  121 . In other preferable embodiments of the present disclosure, the projection  1211  can be also independently made of elastic material, such as silicone rubber or rubber, etc. In such case, the projection  1211  can be attached to the base groove  121  through gluing, clamping, or coating. Preferably, the projection  1211  is attached to the base groove  121  through coating. 
     Additionally, in the embodiment, the base groove  121  and/or the projection  1211  located on the inner surface of the base  12  extends along a peripheral edge of the inner surface of the base  12  so as to provide a greater holding force on the cover  11  and the base  12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the container set  1  of the current embodiment further includes a first container  13  which can be placed between the cover  11  and the base  12 . The first container  13  has a container edge  131  so that the first container  13  can abut against an inner surface of the cover  11  through the container edge  131 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , in the embodiment, the container edge  131  extends along a peripheral edge of the first container  13  and protrudes outward, so that the first container  13  engages the cover  11  through engagement of the container edge  131  and the cover sealing member  111 . Preferably, the cover sealing member  111  further has an inner projection  1112  protruding inward and having a curved cross section, the container edge  131  has a projection  1311  protruding outward and having a curved cross section, and an outer diameter of the projection  1311  of the container edge  131  exceeds an inner diameter of the inner projection  1112  of the cover sealing member  111 . When the first container  13  engages the cover  11 , the projection  1311  of the container edge  131  is engaged on the inner projection  1112  of the cover sealing member  111  by elastically deforming the inner projection  1112  of the cover sealing member  111 . As a result, the container edge  131  and the cover sealing member  111  are firmly fastened. 
     In the embodiment, the inner projection  1112  and the outer projection  1111  of the cover sealing member  111  are integrally formed and attached to the cover peripheral edge  113  through, for example, gluing, clamping, or coating. 
     In other preferable embodiments, the outer projection  1111  and the inner projection  1112  of the cover sealing member  111  are individually made of elastic material. The outer projection  1111  and the inner projection  1112  can be attached to the cover sealing member  111  through gluing, clamping or coating. Preferably, the outer projection  1111  and the inner projection  1112  are attached to the cover sealing member  111  through coating. 
     In this embodiment, the container edge  131  and the projection  1311  are made of hard material. In other embodiments, the container edge  131  and the projection  1311  can be made of elastic material, such as silicone rubber or rubber, etc. The elastic material can be attached to the container edge  131  through gluing, clamping or coating. Preferably, the elastic material is attached to the container edge  131  through coating. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , through the structures of the cover  11 , the base  12  and the first container  13 , when the container edge  131  engages the cover sealing member  111  and the cover sealing member  111  is also engaged with the base groove  121 , the container edge  131  and the base groove  121  respectively abut against an inner side and an outer side of the cover sealing member  111  to make the cover sealing member  111  elastically deform, so as to form a sealed interlocking structure. 
     Specifically, when the cover  11 , the base  12  and the first container  13  are assembled, the projection  1311  of the container edge  131  engages the inner projection  1112  of the cover sealing member  111 , and the cover sealing member  111  (or the outer projection  1111 ) is simultaneously engaged with the base groove  121 . At this time, the projection  1311  of the container edge  131  abuts against the inner projection  1112  of the cover sealing member  111 , the projection  1211  of the base groove  121  abuts against the outer projection  1111  of the cover sealing member  111 , and the outer projection  1111  of the cover sealing member  111  (which may include the inner projection  1112 ) abuts against the base groove  121  simultaneously, such that the container edge  131 , the cover sealing member  111 , and the base groove  121  form the sealed interlocking structure through the elastic deformation of the outer projection  1111  and the inner projection  1112  (the reliability of the seal would be improved by elastic deformation as the projection  1311  is also made of elastic material). 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , in another embodiment of the invention, the container set has a similar structure to that of forgoing embodiment, wherein an inner surface of the cover sealing member  111  further forms a cover groove  112  which extends along the cover peripheral edge  113  of the cover  11 . When the first container  13  engages the cover  11 , the container edge  131  engages the cover groove  112 , so that the cover groove  112  holds the container edge  131 . 
     In one preferable embodiment of the invention, the cover groove  112 , the inner projection  1112  and/or the outer projection  1111  can be a single component formed integrally. 
     In one preferable embodiment of the invention, the cover groove  112  is defined by the inner projection  1112  of the cover sealing member  111  and the inner surface of the cover  11 . 
     In one preferable embodiment of the invention, when the cover  11  engages the first container  13 , the projection  1311  of the first container  13  is engaged between the cover groove  112  and the inner projection  1112 , and the projection  1311  of the first container  13  simultaneously abuts against the cover groove  112  and the inner projection  1112 . As such, the projection  1311  of the first container  13  is subject to an upward holding force (from the inner projection  1112 ) and a downward holding force (from the cover groove  112 ) at the same time through an elastic deformation of the inner projection  1112  so as to create the seal between the cover  11  and the base  12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , in another preferable embodiment of the invention, the container set  1 ′ further includes a second container  14 . The second container  14  may be placed between the first container  13  and the cover  11 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4-7 , in this embodiment, the first container  13  and the second container  14  are foldable. The first container  13  includes a bottom portion  134 , a top portion  132  and a middle portion  133 , and the second container  14  includes a bottom portion  144 , a top portion  142  and a middle portion  143 . The bottom portions  134  and  144  and the top portions  132  and  142  are made of a first material, and the middle portions  133  and  143  are made of a second material. In addition, the middle portions  133  and  143  are respectively located between the bottom portions  134  and  144  and the top portions  132  and  142  and respectively connect top edges of the bottom portions  134  and  144  and bottom edges of the top portions  132  and  142 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5, 8 and 9 , in the current embodiment, the middle portion  133  and the middle portion  143  respectively include at least two folding segments  1331  and  1332  and at least two folding segments  1431  and  1432 . The folding segments  1331  and  1332  are respectively connected to the top edge of the bottom portion  134  and the bottom edge of the top portion  132  through gluing, clamping, or coating, and the folding segments  1431  and  1432  are respectively connected to the top edge of the bottom portion  144  and the bottom edge of the top portion  142  through gluing, clamping, or coating. 
     Additionally, the first material has a higher Young&#39;s modulus than the second material. Preferably, the first material is made of hard material, and the second material is made of pliable material or elastic material, such as rubber or silicone rubber, etc. In one preferable embodiment, the second material is made of silicon rubber. 
     Moreover, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the first container  13  and the second container  14  have similar foldable structures. The first container  13  and the second container  14  may have different sizes so that multiple containers are able to be stacked and received within the space formed between the cover  11  and the base  12 . 
     In the embodiments set forth above, the folding segments  1331  and  1431  of the first and second containers  13  and  14  are referred to as first folding segments  1331  and  1431 , and the folding segments  1332  and  1432  of the first and second containers  13  and  14  are referred to as second folding segments  1332  and  1432 . The first folding segment  1331  is located adjacent to a position where the middle portion  133  and the bottom portion  134  join, and the first folding segment  1431  is located adjacent to a position where the middle portion  143  and the bottom portion  144  join. The second folding segment  1332  is located adjacent to a position where the middle portion  133  and the top portion  132  join, and the second folding segment  1432  is located adjacent to a position where the middle portion  143  and the top portion  142  join. When the first container  13  and the second container  14  are folded, the first folding segments  1331  and  1431  and the second folding segments  1332  and  1432  are elastically deformed so that the bottom portions  134  and  144  are folded and received at inner sides of the top portions  132  and  142  respectively, and the middle portions  133  and  143  are folded in between the top portions  132  and  142  and the bottom portions  134  and  144  respectively. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 and 6 , in a preferable embodiment of the invention, the cover  11  has a gas valve  15  which facilitates a tighter seal between the cover  11  and the base  12  and prevents the cover  11  from being separated from the base  12 . In addition, when the cover  11  is to be detached from the base  12 , the gas valve  15  may be released to equalize pressure inside and outside of the container. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , in a preferable embodiment of the invention, the container set may further include utensils such as knives, forks, chopsticks, spoons, etc., accommodated within the space formed between the cover  11  and the base  12 . Preferably, the utensils are accommodated between the first container  13  and the base  12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4-7 , to use the container sets  1  and  1 ′, the user may detach the cover  11  from the base  12  (at this time the first container  13  is in a state being engaged with the cover  11 ), separate the first container  13  from the cover  11 , and then remove the second container  14  and the utensils. At this time, each of the first container  13  and the second container  14  is in a folded state, and the user may push the bottom portions  134  and  144  of the first container  13  and the second container  14  outward respectively, and expand the first container  13  and the second container  14  to fully expand them as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  with the elastic force generated by the elastic deformation of the middle portions  133  and  143 . 
     To store the container set, the user may place the first container  13  and the second container  14  on a plane and press the top portions  132  and  142  of the first container  13  and the second container  14  downward to restore the first container  13  and the second container  14  to the folded state as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . 
     The foregoing interlocking structure of the invention enables multiple containers to be tightly assembled, prevents leakage, and enables the multiple containers to be stacked in an orderly and stable manner. In addition, as shown in  FIG. 4 , additional container(s) and/or utensils, such as knives, forks, spoons, etc., can be further accommodated between the containers, thereby optimizing the space utilization of the container set. 
     The embodiments set forth above may be liable to minor modifications based on the spirit of the invention. However, the invention with minor modifications based on the spirit of the invention should be deemed to lie within the scope of protection. Further, the above descriptions are intended only for elaboration but not to limit the invention.