U.S. patent application number 11/009721 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-15 for storage container assembly.
Invention is credited to William F. Croft, Robert G. III McRorie.
Application Number | 20060124648 11/009721 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36582610 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060124648 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Croft; William F. ; et
al. |
June 15, 2006 |
Storage container assembly
Abstract
The present disclosure provides for a storage container assembly
having a primary container and a secondary container. The primary
storage container having a primary base and a primary lid. A
secondary storage container having a secondary base and a secondary
lid. A snap fit mechanism is adapted to releasably connect the
secondary storage container to the primary storage container. The
primary lid may include a recessed cavity adapted to receive at
least a portion of the secondary base therein when the secondary
base is snap fitted to the primary lid.
Inventors: |
Croft; William F.;
(Mooresville, NC) ; McRorie; Robert G. III;
(Huntersville, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARSHALL, GERSTEIN & BORUN LLP
233 S. WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 6300
SEARS TOWER
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
36582610 |
Appl. No.: |
11/009721 |
Filed: |
December 10, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/521 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 1/24 20130101; B65D
21/0237 20130101; B65D 21/0219 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/521 |
International
Class: |
B65D 1/24 20060101
B65D001/24 |
Claims
1. A storage container assembly comprising: a primary storage
container including a primary base, a primary lid openable and
closable relative to the primary base, and a primary storage space
within the primary base and the primary lid when closed; a
secondary storage container including a secondary base, a secondary
lid openable and closable relative to the secondary base, and a
secondary storage space within the secondary base and the secondary
lid when closed; and a snap fit mechanism provided in part on the
primary container and in part on the secondary container; wherein
the secondary storage container is snapped onto a portion of the
primary storage container.
2. The nestable storage container of claim 1, wherein the snap fit
mechanism includes a recessed cavity in a top surface of the
primary lid, and wherein a portion of the secondary base is snapped
into the recessed cavity.
3. The nestable storage container of claim 1, wherein the snap fit
mechanism includes at least one protrusion projecting from a
surface of the primary lid and at least one corresponding
receptacle formed in a surface of the secondary base, each
protrusion snapped into a corresponding receptacle.
4. The nestable storage container of claim 3, wherein the primary
lid includes a pair of protrusions projecting inwardly from each of
opposing elongate sides of a perimeter wall extending upwardly from
the recessed cavity.
5. The nestable storage container of claim 4, wherein the secondary
base includes a pair of receptacles recessed inwardly along each of
opposing side walls; and wherein each receptacle of the primary lid
has a corresponding protrusion snapped therein.
6. The nestable storage container of claim 1, wherein the primary
and secondary containers are made from a plastic material.
7. The nestable storage container of claim 6, wherein the plastic
material is polypropylene or polyethylene.
8. The nestable storage container of claim 1, wherein the primary
storage container includes at least one partition dividing the
storage space into separate storage compartments.
9. The nestable storage container of claim 1, wherein the primary
lid is completely separable from the primary base when the primary
lid is opened.
10. The nestable storage container of claim 1, wherein the
secondary lid is connected to the secondary base along a living
hinge.
11. The nestable storage container of claim 1, wherein the
secondary base has a smaller size than the primary lid such that
the secondary base is constructed to snap into a recess of the
primary lid.
12. The nestable storage container of claim 1, wherein the
secondary base is elongate and large enough to hold a plurality of
eating utensils.
13. A combination food and eating utensil storage container
assembly comprising: a food storage container having a base, a lid,
and a food storage space within the base and lid when closed; a
recessed cavity formed in an exterior surface of the food storage
container; an eating utensil storage container having a utensil
base, a utensil lid, and a utensil storage space within the utensil
base and utensil lid when closed, a portion of the utensil storage
container resting in the recessed cavity of the food storage
container; a plurality of protrusions extending from either a
surface of the recessed cavity or from a surface of a portion of
the utensil storage container; a plurality of receptacles recessed
into the other of the surface of the recessed cavity or the surface
of the portion of the utensil storage container; and wherein each
protrusion is removably snapped into a corresponding one of the
receptacles.
14. The storage container assembly of claim 13, wherein the
protrusions are formed in the recessed cavity of the food container
and the receptacles are formed in the utensil container.
15. The storage container assembly of claim 13, wherein the utensil
lid is connected to the utensil base along a living hinge.
16. The storage container assembly of claim 13, wherein the food
storage lid is completely separable from the food storage base when
the food storage lid is opened.
17. The storage container assembly of claim 13, wherein the food
storage lid includes a pair of protrusions projecting inwardly from
each of opposing elongate sides of a perimeter wall extending
upwardly from the recessed cavity.
18. The storage container of claim 13, wherein the utensil base
includes a pair of receptacles recessed inwardly along each of
opposing side walls; and wherein each receptacle has a
corresponding protrusion snapped therein.
19. The storage container of claim 13, wherein the food storage and
utensil containers are made from a plastic material.
20. The storage container of claim 13, wherein the plastic material
is polypropylene or polyethylene.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a storage container, and
more particularly to a pair of storage containers connected
together.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] Storage containers of varying sizes and material types are
well known in the industry. Storage containers are generally known
to have a base portion for holding desired contents and a lid for
covering the base and enclosing the contents within an interior of
the container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] Objects, features, and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent upon reading the following description in
conjunction with the drawing figures, in which:
[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage container assembly
with a primary container and a secondary container in an assembled
configuration;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the storage container
assembly of FIG. 1 with the secondary container separated from the
primary container;
[0006] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the primary and secondary
containers of FIG. 2 having their respective lids in an open
configuration;
[0007] FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the storage container of FIG. 1
showing a snap fit mechanism operable for holding the secondary
container and primary container in the assembled configuration;
[0008] FIG. 5 is an end view of the storage container of FIG. 1;
and
[0009] FIG. 6 is a side view of the storage container of FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0010] The present disclosure provides for a storage container
assembly. In one example, the disclosed storage container assembly
can be used for storing food as well as eating utensils and the
like. The storage container assembly includes a primary storage
container and a secondary storage container connected to the
primary container. Each storage container has a lid that connects
to and seals with a base. In one embodiment, the secondary
container is sized to store eating utensils separate from food
items stored in the primary container. The storage container can be
made of any suitable material, but in the disclosed example is made
of a plastic material such as polypropylene or polyethylene. The
storage container may be categorized as disposable or
semi-disposable when made of thin, inexpensive plastic because the
storage container may be disposed of after one or more uses.
Further, the storage container assembly may be formed from any one
of a number of processes, such as thermo-forming, vacuum forming,
pressure forming and/or injection molding.
[0011] Referring now to FIG. 1, one example of a storage container
assembly 10 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the
present invention, includes a primary storage container 12 and a
secondary storage container 14 nested with and connected to the
primary storage container 12. The secondary storage container 14 is
positioned on top of the primary container 12 and in this example
is smaller in size than the primary storage container 12. It should
be understood that the secondary container may be larger than the
primary container in alternate configurations. It should also be
understood that the secondary container may be configured to
connect to the primary container other than on top of the primary
container.
[0012] Referring now to FIG. 2, the secondary storage container 14
can be separated from the primary storage container 12 in a manner
that will be described in further detail below. The disclosed
secondary storage container 14 has a pair of rounded end sections
16a, 16b and a pair of substantially linear, elongate side portions
18a, 18b. The primary storage container 12 can be similar in shape
to the secondary storage container 14, as in this example. The
primary storage container 12 has a pair of rounded end sections
20a, 20b and a pair of substantially linear, elongate side portions
22a, 22b. Alternatively, each storage container 12, 14 may have
different shapes such as square, rectangular, or other geometric
configurations as desired and need not be substantially similar in
shape.
[0013] Referring now to FIG. 3, the primary container 12 includes a
primary base 24 and a primary lid 26. A primary storage space 28 is
created within the interior of the primary base 24 and primary lid
26 with the primary lid in the closed position shown in FIG. 2.
When the primary lid 26 is in the open position of FIG. 3, the
storage space 28 is accessible. Similarly, the secondary storage
container 14 includes a secondary base 30 and a secondary lid 32. A
secondary storage space 34 is created within the interior of the
secondary base 30 and lid 32 when the secondary lid 32 is in the
closed position as shown in FIG. 2. The secondary storage space 34
is accessible when the secondary lid 32 is in the open position of
FIG. 3. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the primary lid 26
is completely separable from the primary base 24 while the
secondary storage lid 32 is connected to the secondary storage base
30 with a living hinge 36 along the elongate side portion 18a. It
should be understood that either lid 26, 32 may be connected to
their respective bases 24, 30 by a hinge, or may be completely
separable.
[0014] A recessed cavity 40 is formed in a top surface 42 of the
primary lid 26 in this example. The recessed cavity 40 includes a
lower surface 44 and a perimeter wall 46 extending upward from the
periphery of the lower surface 44 to the top surface 42.
[0015] A snap fit mechanism 50 (best seen in FIG. 4) is provided to
releasably connect the secondary storage container 14 to the
primary storage container 12. The disclosed example of the snap fit
mechanism 50 includes four protrusions 52. The protrusions 52 are
arranged such that two are positioned spaced apart along each side
22a, 22b of the perimeter wall 46. The protrusions 52 are operable
for resiliently engaging or snapping into complimentary receptacles
54 formed in the secondary base 30 of the secondary container 14.
The protrusions 52 are snapped into the corresponding receptacles
54 when the secondary base 30 is positioned within the recessed
cavity 40 of the primary lid 26.
[0016] The primary base 24 has at least one partition 60 in this
example that divides the primary storage space 28 into separate
storage compartments 62, 64. While not shown, it should be
understood that the storage space can be formed without any
partition or may have several partitions. Further, a partition can
be formed in the primary lid 26 that is opposed to the base 24. The
partition 60 in the depicted example is shown in a lateral
orientation, but one or more longitudinally disposed partitions are
also contemplated by the present disclosure. It should also be
understood that the secondary container 14 may also include
partitions in a similar manner disclosed in the primary container
12.
[0017] The primary lid 26 may also include a flap 80 extending
outward from the top surface 42 thereof for a user to grasp when
opening the lid 26 from the primary base 24. Likewise, the
secondary container lid 32 may include a flap 82 extending outward
from a perimeter 72 of the lid 32 for a user to grasp when opening
the lid 32 from the secondary base 30.
[0018] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the disclosed storage
container assembly 10 more clearly depicting the snap fit mechanism
50. The secondary base 30 is nested within the recessed cavity 40
of the primary lid 26. Each protrusion 52 of the primary lid 26
extends into a corresponding receptacle 54 of the secondary base 54
to hold the secondary container 14 in a fixed position relative to
the primary container 12. A distance D1 between the protrusions 52
must necessarily be less than the distance D2 between opposing side
walls 86a, 86b of the secondary base 30 to prevent the secondary
container 14 from inadvertently separating. As the secondary base
30 is pushed down over the protrusions 52, the protrusions 52 are
resiliently displaced outward as they slide past the side walls
86a, 86b. Once the protrusions 52 align with their corresponding
receptacles 54 of the secondary base 32, the protrusions 52 will
resiliently snap into the receptacles 54 and thus hold the
secondary container 14 in a snap fit manner to the primary
container 12.
[0019] It should be understood by one skilled in the art that the
protrusions 52 and the receptacles 54 can alternatively be
positioned on the secondary base 30 and primary lid 26,
respectively. Also, the number and position of protrusions 52 and
receptacles 54 can vary in any manner desired. Furthermore,
depending on the material selection and the thickness of the
sidewalls 86a, 86b of the secondary base 30, the sidewalls 86a, 86b
may also be displaced inward when the containers 12, 14 are snapped
together. It should also be understood that other mechanical
locking mechanisms such as dovetail joints, etc., as is known to
those skilled in the art, can be employed to connect the containers
12, 14 together. Likewise, other materials such as glass, metal, or
ceramic can be used with alternate locking mechanisms.
[0020] The lids 26, 32 sealingly engage with their respective bases
24, 30 via a tongue and groove connection as is known to those
skilled in the art. The primary lid 26 includes a tongue 65 in this
example that sealingly engages with or seats in a groove 66 formed
around a perimeter 68 (see FIG. 3) of the base 24. In a similar
manner, a tongue 70 formed around the perimeter 72 (see FIG. 3) of
the secondary lid 32 engages with or seats in a groove 74 formed
around a perimeter 76 of the secondary base 30.
[0021] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, an end view and a side view
of the nestable container 10 are respectively illustrated. When the
primary and secondary containers 12, 14 are nested together, the
base 30 of the secondary container 14 rests below the top surface
42 of the primary container 12. In this manner, the bottom surface
90 of the secondary container 14 is at least partially positioned
below the top surface 42 of the primary lid 26.
[0022] In operation, the nestable storage container 10 can be used
to store items separate from one another. In one example, the
primary storage container 12 may store various food items (not
shown) while the secondary container 14 may be used to store eating
utensils (not shown). The eating utensils may include items such as
forks, spoons, and knives for picnics, lunches away from home or
similar functions. While the secondary storage container 14 may be
sized to store any type of utensil such as standard silverware or
serving utensils, it may alternatively be used to store additional
food products.
[0023] Initially, a user can fill the primary container 12 with one
or more desired items, such as food, and snap the primary lid 26
onto the primary base 24 to seal the storage space 28. A user can
then place one or more additional items, such as eating utensils
into the secondary storage container 14 and close the lid 32 onto
the secondary base 30 to seal the storage space 34. The secondary
storage container 14 is then pressed into the recessed cavity 40 of
the primary lid 26 until the protrusions 52 of the primary lid 26
snap into the receptacles 54 of the secondary base 32. In order to
remove the secondary container 14 from the primary container 12 a
user merely grasps the flap 82 or another location along the outer
perimeter 68 of the secondary container 14, and pulls upward to
release the protrusions 52 from the receptacles 54. The secondary
container 14 is then displaced upward from the primary container
12.
[0024] While the preceding text sets forth a detailed description
of a number of embodiments of the invention, it should be
understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the
words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The
detailed description is to be construed as only providing examples,
and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention.
Describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not
impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented,
using either current technology or technology developed after the
filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope
of the claims defining the invention.
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