Patent Publication Number: US-2006011626-A1

Title: Nestable containers

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/646,581, entitled “NESTABLE CONTAINERS,” filed on Aug. 22, 2003, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a nestable storage container and more particularly to nestable storage containers designed to receive a removable cover.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Nestable containers for storing contents are known in the prior art. Generally, such prior art containers are identical to one another to allow them to be nested together. Nesting the containers in such a manner reduces the amount of storage space required to hold the containers when they are not in use. However, the features in the prior art designs that allow the containers to be nested also create problems with the containers. For instance, they often reduce the structural integrity of the container and/or make them more difficult to handle. Additionally, the identical designs of such containers limit them to containers of the same holding capacity. Moreover, many stacking designs must be specifically pre-oriented to permit stacking and are frequently designed to receive covers or lids that are not easy to remove. A common problem as well is the often existing variety of (food) containers stored in kitchen cupboards that are difficult to match up with the fitting lids of any particular container within such an assortment.  
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
      The containers of the present invention are designed for an efficient overall storage system for open, in cabinet storage when not in use and designed with features for easy, safe handling during use.  
      In one embodiment, the nestable container has four sidewalls flared upwardly and outwardly from a common bottom. Each sidewall is connected to its adjacent sidewalls by an inwardly fluted web defining finger gripping corners at the edges of said sidewalls.  
      In another embodiment, the nestable container has four sidewalls flared upwardly and outwardly from a common bottom. Each sidewall is connected to adjacent sidewalls by an inwardly fluted web defining finger gripping comers at the edges of the sidewalls. The upper end of each fluted web is defined by a wall or lip having an edge that is continuous with upper edges of the adjacent sidewalls and defines a continuous edge for engagement with a lid.  
      In yet another embodiment, each of a series of nestable containers have four sidewalls flared upwardly and outwardly from a common bottom. Each sidewall is connected to its adjacent sidewalls by an inwardly fluted web, defining finger gripping comers at the edges of adjacent sidewalls. The open end of each nestable container is defined by a continuous upper edge adapted to mate with a lid, the upper edge having a periphery greater than the bottom.  
      Various embodiments of the present invention provide certain advantages and overcome certain drawbacks of prior containers. Embodiments of the invention may not share the same advantages, and those that do may not share them under all circumstances. This being said, the present invention provides numerous advantages including the noted advantages of improved efficiency in storing the containers, and also the improved handling during use.  
      Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure of various embodiments, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
      In the drawings, similar features that are illustrated in various figures are represented by like numerals. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of embodiments of two different sizes and shapes of nestable containers shown in a stored, nested open and closed configurations, as well as showing the textured flutes relative to finger position in “lift-up” mode;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a nestable containers with a lid secured to one and adjacent to the other;  
       FIG. 3  is an inverted side view of an embodiment of a nestable container;  
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 4B  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a pair of like nested containers taken along a line corresponding to the line  4 B- 4 B of  FIG. 4A .  
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 A- 5 A shown in  FIG. 4  and includes a lid cross section that is not shown in  FIG. 4 ; and  
       FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional view of an outer container and a full side view of a container nested within the outer container, taken along line  6 B- 6 B shown in  FIG. 4 .  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of embodiments of the invention used on a slide-out and turn base, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,119 with lid pockets and rounded-square containers;  
       FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of the same slide and turn base, showing lid pockets and positioning mandrels snapped in place on the turntable surface. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      The containers of the present invention are adapted for efficient stacking when they are not in use, and for safe handling when they are in use and facilitate the easy removal of a lid without the likelihood of spilling any contents of the container.  
      Turning to the Figures, and in particular  FIGS. 1 and 2  where illustrative embodiments of the nestable containers  10  are shown. Several different sized nestable containers in inverted, stacked and upright configurations are illustrated. The first stack  12  is of nestable containers that are larger in size and may contain a greater volume of contents than the container  14 . These containers  10  and  14  may, for example, contain 1 quart and 1 pint, respectively, although they may be sized to contain any other volume, as the present invention is not limited in this respect.  FIG. 2  shows a third embodiment of a nestable container that contains a volume different than those shown in  FIG. 1 , which may, for instance, be ½ pint. This container  16  is shown in a configuration used for storing contents with its lid  18  securely fastened thereto. Also illustrated in  FIG. 1  are essentially frusto conic configured containers  15  and  17  that are of different volumes, but each have identically sized and shaped open ends designed to receive circular covers  18 A. Regardless of the volume the containers  10  and  14  can hold, they each have a commonly sized top rim  30  at the open end  42 , the benefits of which will be described below. The four sided containers illustrated by containers  10  and  14  will require a larger volume of plastic to hold the same volume as containers  15  and  17 , but since the four sided container may make more efficient space use of a refrigerator or the like, when stored. The detailed description refers primarily to the four sided container  10  and  14  but the broader advantages and features also apply to containers  15  and  17 .  
      Each of the containers  10  and  14  have sidewalls  20  that are angled outwardly from the bottom  24  of the container to the open end  42 , preferably at a 5 degree angle as depicted in  FIG. 3  by the constant “α”. The angling of the sidewalls  20  and the inwardly bowed or fluted gripping portions  22  that are between each adjacent sidewall create a cross section that gradually decreases from top to bottom, along the longitudinal axis of each container. This decreasing cross section allows the containers to fit, almost entirely, within another container of the same size or a larger size. Only the top rim  30  and stepped section  32  comprising an outer wall  32   a  and bottom  32   b  ( FIG. 5   a ) of a container in most embodiments will not fit inside of a corresponding nested container. The top rim and stepped section is preferably in the order of about 0.5″ to 1″, but most preferably in the order of 0.68 inches tall, meaning that each additional stacked container only consumes about an additional corresponding 0.5″ to 1.0″ of space in the stacking direction of the preferred embodiment. In another embodiment, only the rim provides height that does not nest within the adjacent container. The essentially square configuration allows the containers to be stacked or nested on top of one another in any one of four different rotational orientations, thus eliminating the need to carefully orient the containers before stacking or nesting.  
      The common top rim  30  and essentially square shape of each container also allows containers of different sizes to be stacked with one another. For example, a two quart container, and one quart container as shown in  FIG. 1 , and a one pint container as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  may all be stacked with one another. Although the containers may be stacked with the smaller container inside of the larger container, or vice-versa, it is preferable that the smaller container be placed inside of the larger container. This configuration allows the top rims of each container contacting one another and thus stabilizing the nested stack of containers, as is shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  6 A and as is described in greater detail below.  
      The top rim  30  of the illustrated containers, shown from a top view in  FIG. 4 , has several features that improve stackability among containers. It is identical to the top rim  30  of other containers, regardless of the container volume. The common top rim design, and the commonly angled body allows the container volume to be altered by only changing the height of a particular container and the footprint of the container base, while maintaining other design features constant.  
      Extending downwardly from each top rim  30  and the stepped section  32  are four engagement ribs  36 , equally spaced on the inside periphery as shown in  FIG. 4A  and adapted to contact the rim  30  of the nested container above.  
      In this arrangement, the stepped section  32  has an outer wall  32 A coextensive with the periphery of the rim  30  and with the wall defined by lines near-parallel to the center axis of the container, but inclined in the order of 1° in molding direction, as is common in plastic injection molding practice.  
      The bottom  32 B of Section  32  connects the wall  32 A and sidewall  20  ( FIGS. 3, 4B  and  6 ).  
      When stacked as shown in  FIG. 4B , bottom  32 B of one container mates only marginally with rim  30  of the stacked container immediately below, due to the thin (0.040) wall section and the 1° inclination (draft) of the stepped section  32  wall. This is shown in  FIG. 6   a  where the underside or wall  32 B of the stepped section  32  is in only marginal contact with the rim  30  of a nested container below (see also  FIG. 4B ).  
      In order to provide both a laterally definitive and vertically secure nesting/stacking arrangement, the four engagement ribs  36  are dimensioned to make contact with the bottom  32 B of Section  32 . Although only one rib  36  is shown, centrally located on each side, more than one rib may be selectively placed. To further illustrate this nesting/stacking system,  FIGS. 4A and 4B  (cross-section) are provided.  
      Each gripping groove or fluted section  22  terminates at the lip or wall  28  that is coextensive with the upper end of each container and in part defines the periphery of the annular top rim  30  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). When the containers are stacked, these lips or walls  28  define a surface that a user can flex with a finger or thumb to pry nested containers apart, should that become necessary. This will not generally be necessary as the preferred container embodiments have 0.025 inches of clearance between the walls of mating containers. Additionally, the lips or walls  28  will ordinarily lie in facing relation with a lid secured on the container.  FIG. 5  shows that when a lid is so secured the lip or wall  28  may be flexed with a finger or thumb together with the lid-rim  38  to pop the lid downward protruding lid-rim and lid from the container.  
      The common top rim  30  of each of the containers, regardless of their size and volume, also allows a common lid design to be used for all of the various containers. For instance,  FIG. 2  shows one lid placed on top of a one pint container; however, the same lid may also be on a two quart container, a one quart container or any other container having a common top rim as the invention is not limited in this respect. Such common lids may also be placed closely next to one another to take up a minimum amount of storage space when stored alongside the stacked container columns. These lids may be stored within “lid pockets”  39  on the periphery of a turn and slide out unit that holds both the containers and lids such as illustrated and disclosed in issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,119, issued Jul. 1, 2003. The lids  18  are preferably made having matching radii at their comers and along their sides to conform to the preferred shape of the container top rim  30 .  
      Some lids, according to the present invention, are made of a soft plastic material, such as polyethylene, that allows them to be stretched over the top rim of a container, thereby providing a snap-fit as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Such a snap-fit provides the seal between the lid and the container, thereby further preventing leakage of any contents and/or spoilage of any contents inside the container. Generally, such snap-fit arrangements require that the entire outer edge of the top rim be bowed outwardly at all points to conform to the similarly shaped top edge of a container, as shown in FIGS.  4  and  5 . Otherwise, if large portions of the top rim and lid were bowed inwardly, the pressure between the lid and the top rim may be reduced at the inwardly bowed portion such that a leak path could be formed. For these reasons, the top rim of the containers and lids of the present invention are generally bowed outward at all points.  
      The top rim of containers of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 4, 5 , and  6  also have a rim protrusion that helps provide the snap-fit and also improves the sealing capabilities of the container. The rim protrusion mates with a corresponding inner surface protrusion on the lid, as shown by the lid cross section in  FIG. 5 , to provide a noticeable ‘snap’ that is felt when the lid is secured in its locked position. If such a snap is not felt, the user is alerted that the lid may not be properly in place. The rim protrusion preferably comprises a 30 degree angled surface  38  at its upper edge that creates an interference fit with a corresponding overlapping surface on the inner portion  40  of the rim of a lid  18 .  
      The containers of the present invention are also easy to handle when they are used. Each of the containers, regardless of size, include an inwardly extending flute or gripping groove  22  arranged in between each of the four sidewalls  20 . This gripping groove  22  flared or is bowed inwardly relative to the sidewalls  20 . However, the gripping grooves are also preferably angled outwardly in a direction from the bottom portion  24  of a container to the open end  42  to allow for stacking. For the preferred container, which is sized to have sidewalls spaced from one another by 5.55 inches at the top rim  30 , the gripping grooves  22  are bowed inwardly along a suitable radius and the sidewalls are bowed outwardly with an equally suitable radius. For containers having top rims with different sizes, the gripping grooves and the sidewalls may be increased or decreased proportionally. One typical size contemplates the gripping grooves having a 0.5″ radius and the sidewalls having a 10 inch radius, although other proportions are possible as the invention is not limited in this respect. The grooves or flutes  22  provide the user with a firm surface to grip and to apply pressure against with their thumb and fingers. The grooves provide this benefit when the containers are picked up by their bottom portion, as shown by the hand illustrated in  FIG. 1 , or when handled in other manners, such as when heavy contents are being poured from the container.  
      The gripping grooves also have features that prevent the container from slipping from a user&#39;s grasp. Some embodiments of the invention have a textured surface  26  as a part of the gripping grooves to enhance the grip offered to a user. For instance, the textured surface as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  6  enhances the amount of friction between the user and the container thus preventing any slippage of the container from the user&#39;s hand. In the preferred embodiment, this texture is integrally formed acid etched into the mold within the container gripping grooves and extends into the material to a maximum depth in accordance with best injection molding practices. Such texturing surface may be a part of the material that forms the body of the container, or it may be provided by an adhesive or a film that is applied to the container after it has been formed, as the invention is not limited in this respect.  
      The inwardly bowed gripping grooves  22  of the container improve the rigidity of the container structure. Many containers, particularly large, thin-walled containers have a tendency to bow or flex when gripped by a user. Such flexing allows the walls of a container to give way when grasped by a user, making the container difficult to hold and also potentially causing spillage. The inwardly bowed grooves, as shown in embodiments of the present invention, arranged in between the outwardly bowed sidewalls, held to prevent the structure from bowing inwardly at each of the comers of its essentially square construction. They also held to prevent the outwardly bowed sidewalls from flexing to a certain extent. More importantly, they provide a firm gripping surface that obviates the need for a user to grab a container by its larger sidewalls, which are more prone to flexing and the associated gripping problems. In some embodiments, the gripping grooves, or portions thereof, can have thicker walls to further improve container rigidity.  
      Generally the containers of the present invention are adapted to store most any contents that a user desires. However, the containers are particularly adapted for the storage of foodstuffs. For instance, food items that are regularly purchased for use in the house or a restaurant may be supplied in packages that are too large for normal every day use, or that are difficult to reseal once opened. It is often convenient to store such items in smaller or more easily sealable containers, like the containers described herein. The essentially square configuration also allows the containers to be packed amongst other storage containers in an efficient manner, as most other storage containers are also rectangular or square in design. Additionally, the containers are particularly suited to storing meals, either before they have been served or as leftovers to be saved for consumption at a later date as people generally like to view the contents of foodstuff contained at a glance, without opening them. To this end, the containers are preferably conventionally made of a clear plastic, such as ABS or polypropylene with wall thicknesses on the order of 0.040 to 0.050 inches, with highly polished surfaces to allow one to see the contents of the container through its sidewalls.  
      The containers may be adapted to fit within a slide out tray having a base with receptacles designed specifically to accept the top rim  30 , the bottom  24 , or any other portions of the various nestable containers. For instance, a slidable tray like that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,119, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety into the present application, maybe adapted for use with the nestable containers ( FIG. 7 ). In particular, such a tray having a 11.75 to 12 inch diameter can accept three stacks of essentially square containers of the same or different sizes at positions  120  degrees apart from one another on the tray.  
      The periphery of this tray can also have 3 each distinct “lid-pockets”  39  for accepting three stacks  13  of container lids  18 . The lid pockets accept those lids in a vertically placed staggered configuration. The stacked container open ends  42  are facing down onto the tray and are positioned by upwardly extending mandrils  11  ( FIG. 7   a ). Such a configuration prevents loose debris and contaminants from falling inside of the containers  10  and  14  that may otherwise contaminate contents placed inside of them. In this manner, the tray with  3  each mandrils  11  provides additional benefits of keeping the containers in a sanitary condition and stable position.  
      As previously noted, one embodiment of this invention contemplates a container having a frusto conic shape, as shown at  15  and  17 , in  FIG. 1 . These containers are similar in structure, design and function as containers  10  and  14  except for the use of a frusto conic sidewall  20 A instead of four sidewalls  20  in the embodiments of containers  10  and  14 . The cover  18 A is designed to snap fit over the circular rim  30  of containers  15  and  17 .  
      Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of this invention, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.  
      This invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the above description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,” “containing”, “involving”, and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.