U.S. patent application number 10/178535 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-25 for stackable container.
Invention is credited to Diamant, Asher.
Application Number | 20030234200 10/178535 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29734715 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030234200 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Diamant, Asher |
December 25, 2003 |
Stackable container
Abstract
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.
Inventors: |
Diamant, Asher; (Ashdod,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DEKEL PATENT LTD., DAVID KLEIN
BEIT HAROF'IM
18 MENUHA VENAHALA STREET, ROOM 27
REHOVOT
76209
IL
|
Family ID: |
29734715 |
Appl. No.: |
10/178535 |
Filed: |
June 25, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/508 ;
206/511; 220/23.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 21/0202 20130101;
B65D 21/0223 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/508 ;
206/511; 220/23.4 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/62; B65D
021/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A container comprising: a storage compartment formed with an
arcuate outer surface; and a cover adapted to close said storage
compartment, said cover being formed with an arcuate outer surface
having a complementary shape nestable with said outer surface of
said storage compartment, such that the storage compartment of one
said container is stackable with the cover of another said
container.
2. The container according to claim 1, wherein said outer surface
of said storage compartment is concave and said outer surface of
said cover is convex.
3. The container according to claim 1, wherein said cover comprises
at least one support lug protruding therefrom adapted to abut
against a portion of the storage compartment of one said container
stacked on the cover of another said container.
4. The container according to claim 3, further comprising a
plurality of said support lugs positioned on opposite sides of said
cover.
5. The container according to claim 3, further comprising a
plurality of said support lugs spaced axially from one another on
said cover.
6. The container according to claim 4, wherein said support lugs
are positioned symmetrically on opposite sides of said cover.
7. The container according to claim 1, wherein said storage
compartment and said cover comprise mating fasteners adapted to
fasten said storage compartment with said cover.
8. The container according to claim 3, wherein said storage
compartment and said cover comprise mating fasteners adapted to
fasten said storage compartment to said cover.
9. The container according to claim 8, wherein said support lugs
are positioned adjacent said fasteners.
10. The container according to claim 1, wherein said cover is
hinged to said storage compartment.
11. The container according to claim 1, wherein said cover is not
hinged to said storage compartment.
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'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:
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