Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/278,788, filed Apr. 5, 2006, which is a continuation under 37 C.F.R. 1.53(b) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/547,249 filed Apr. 11, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,756, issued Apr. 25, 2006, which applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to containers, and more specifically, to plastic containers. The containers described herein may be applied to any use, but they are particularly useful for storing paint, varnish, stain and the like. The containers of the invention will be described in connection with the use of storing paint with the understanding that the container has other usages, such as storing food or other contents.  
         [0003]     Paint is conventionally stored and sold in metal cans which have an upper edge with a groove in which an annular edge of a metal cover is secured by a press fit. The cover is typically removed by prying an edge of the cover upwardly out of engagement with the can edge so that the stored paint can be used. The cover is usually pried upwardly with a screwdriver or other pointed device. The cover can be resecured onto the can by press fit, typically by striking the lid with a solid object, such as a hammer. Because the paint frequently fills the groove of the can, striking the lid with a hammer oftentimes causes the paint to spray outwards. Further, any paint that remains in the groove prevents a tight securing of the cover.  
         [0004]     Paint has generally been stored in round metal containers because the density and weight of paint has been too great for polymeric-based containers to contain and because of a reactivity of the paint with polymeric containers. Round-shaped cans have been used to store paint because it has been difficult to fabricate metal containers with symmetries that are not round.  
         [0005]     Notwithstanding the widespread use of round metal cans as containers for paint, the use of those cans has been expensive and wasteful with respect to storage and transport. For example, round metal cans cannot be positioned efficiently. Further, round metal cans add significant weight to the paint product. Round metal cans are typically difficult to open and close, and round metal cans are difficult to carry. Round metal cans are also easily be dented. Moreover, problems are associated with reclosing the round metal can after use since paint has most likely filled the channel groove portion of the can which receives the standard lid, resulting in spray, spillage and disrupted resealing.  
         [0006]     Efforts have been made to utilize paint containers manufactured from materials other than paint. For example, plastic paint containers are reported in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,938,686; 4,453,647; 4,530,442; 4,548,332; 4,619,373; 4,655,363; 5,303,839; and 5,975,346. However, a need still exists for a paint container that can be easily and efficiently transported, stored, positioned, opened, closed and carried by hand. In securing the cover in position, it is important that the cover is both securely attached and readily removed when desired. Further, the container should be designed not only to store the paint, but also to prevent undesired escape of the paint, to prevent the ingress of dust, moisture or other materials into the container, to allow opening without special tools and to allow tight resealing.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     One embodiment of the present invention includes a polymeric container. The polymeric container comprises a main body. The main body includes a neck portion, a bottom portion and a handle portion. The bottom portion defines a lug. One other embodiment further includes a lid positionable over the neck. The lid defines indentations capable of receiving lugs from another polymeric container. In another embodiment, the main body defines an indentation capable of receiving one or more lugs.  
         [0008]     Another embodiment includes a method for stacking containers. The method comprises providing a first container comprising a main body with a bottom portion. The bottom portion defines one or more lugs. A second container is also provided. The second container comprises a main body that defines an indentation and a bottom portion. The bottom portion defines one or more lugs. The first container is stacked on the second container so that the lug of the first container is seated within the indentation of the second container.  
         [0009]     One other embodiment of the present invention includes a method for stacking containers. The method comprises providing a first container with a main body that includes a bottom portion. The bottom portion defines one or more lugs. The method also comprises providing a second container and a lid positioned on the container. The lid defines an indentation. The first container is stacked on the second container so that the lug of the first container is seated within the indentation on the lid. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the container of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of a plurality of the containers positioned for transport or storage.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of one embodiment of the container of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of one embodiment of the container with an indentation for lug receipt in a lid applied to the container.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5   a  is a top plan view of another embodiment of the bottom portion of the container of the present invention with an annular lug in a main body of the container.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5   b  is a top plan view of one other embodiment of the bottom portion of the container of the present invention with a plurality of discrete lugs in the main body of the container.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5   c  is a top plan view of another embodiment of the bottom portion of the container of the present invention with a single centrally positioned lug.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6   a  is a top plan view of a top portion of one embodiment of the container of the present invention wherein the main body defines an annular indentation.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6   b  is a top plan view of a top portion of one embodiment of the container of the present invention wherein the main body defines a plurality of discrete indentations.  
         [0019]      FIG. 6   c  is a top plan view of one embodiment of a container and lid of the present invention wherein an indentation is defined by the lid. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]     One embodiment of the container of the present invention, illustrated generally at  10  in  FIG. 1 , includes a main body  12  with a generally parallelpiped shape and a lid  14  attachable to the main body  12  at a neck  24 . The main body  12  comprises the neck  24 , a handle  16 , and a bottom portion  18  with an annular lug  20  and a central indentation  22 . Although the container depicted represents a paint volume content of approximately one gallon, the container is readily manufactured in different sizes. The container of the present invention is not limited to any one volume or dimension.  
         [0021]     The container of the present invention includes a number of features that render the container more easily and efficiently stored and transported than conventional containers, such as round metal paint containers. One of these features is the symmetry of the main body. The main body of the container of the present invention is a parallelpiped that permits the container to be transported with a minimum of free space. Straight sidewalls of adjacent containers are alignable with each other, as is shown at  3  in  FIG. 2 . The container of the present invention also includes a number of features that render the container more easily and efficiently opened and closed than conventional containers.  
         [0022]     The container of the present invention  10  includes a unitary handle  16  that forms indentations for fingers  26  that enable a user to more easily carry the container  10 . One embodiment of the container  10  includes an annular lug  20  that permits more stable stacking of the container  10 . In particular, the lug  20  is insertable in an annular groove  28  defined within one embodiment of the lid  14 .  
         [0023]     The shape of the lug  20  can be varied for other container embodiments. For example, the lug may be a continuous annular lug, such as is shown at  20  in  FIG. 5   a  or may be a discrete lug such as is shown at  50  in  Figure 5   b . The lug may also be a single lug  52  positioned in a central region of the bottom of the container, as shown in  FIG. 5   c . Although four lugs are shown, in  FIG. 5   b , it is understood that more or fewer lugs are suitable for use. The lugs  20 ,  50 , and  52  have shapes ranging from rectangular to ovoid.  
         [0024]     The shape of the groove  28  defined is of a shape that permits the stacking of the containers and that permits receipt of the lug  20 . This shape is an annular shape for receipt of annular lug  20  as shown at  60  in  FIG. 6   a . The groove  60  is defined by the container main body. The shape of the groove or indentation is discrete, as shown at  62  in  FIG. 6   b , for receipt of discrete lugs  50 . The discrete indentations  62  are also positioned within the main body of the container. In one other embodiment shown in  FIG. 6   c , the indentation  64  is in a lid  62 . The indentation receives the lug  52 .  
         [0025]     The unitary handle  16  also creates a modular shape for the container  10  that renders the container more efficient to store. The handle  16  may be hollow or solid. The handle  16  is, for some embodiments, integral with the main body.  
         [0026]     One lid embodiment is illustrated generally at  14  in  FIG. 3 . The lid  14  comprises two turning mechanisms, a central mechanism  32  and indentations  34 . The central mechanism comprises a unitary band  36  that allows the lid  14  to be moved in clockwise and a counter clockwise directions. The band  36  has an elevation that permits fingers of a user to be placed below the band  36  to turn the lid  14 . The band forms indentations  40  for fingers that enable the user to more easily carry, open and close the container. The indentations  34  are positioned and sized to enable a user to grasp the lid  14  and to turn the lid  14  clockwise and counter clockwise. The lid  14  of the present invention is configured to enable individuals with “stiff” fingers to use and to turn with relative ease. The lid  14  is sealed to the container  12  by an o-ring  38 . The lid  14  defines threading  42 , and the neck  24  defines threading  44 , so that the threadings  42  and  44  are capable of interacting to attach the lid  14  to the main body  12 .  
         [0027]     The container of the present invention is fabricated from a polymeric material such as polypropylene with methods well known to the art worker. The handle is for some embodiments filled and for other embodiments hollow.  
         [0028]     For some embodiments, the container is lined with a material such as a heat sealable thermoplastic or laminate which acts to contain a material such as paint and, along with the o-ring seal, to prevent air oxidation. Suitable liner materials include polyester, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene and the like. Other suitable liner materials include cellulosics, polycarbonates, polypropylene, polyester or metallized plastic sheet material. One liner material is a plastic laminate that includes nylon, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene and a 0.003 to 0.001 inch aluminum foil. The aluminum foil is sandwiched between layers of the plastic material.  
         [0029]     In one embodiment, an aluminum foil barrier is laminated to an outer polymeric shell by a thernosealing polycoat. The polycoat thermally bonds the foil to the polymeric material. One polycoat comprises a polyethylene extrusion that is coated to the polymeric shell.  
         [0030]     The container of the present invention is usable for storing and transporting a material such as paint. The shape of the container permits space-efficient transport. The shape of the container as well as the ergonomic features of the lid and handle render the container easy and safe for an individual to carry.  
         [0031]     While preferred embodiments of the invention are described herein, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the present invention that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

Technology Category: 7