U.S. patent application number 11/736332 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-23 for modular container system.
This patent application is currently assigned to MARKWINS BEAUTY PRODUCTS, INC.. Invention is credited to Lindsay Bernays Randolph.
Application Number | 20080257775 11/736332 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39871152 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080257775 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Randolph; Lindsay Bernays |
October 23, 2008 |
MODULAR CONTAINER SYSTEM
Abstract
A modular container system of nestable containers which includes
a main container, stackable secondary containers that substantially
occupy a uniform plan area and shape of the main container, and
tertiary containers that substantially occupy a uniform plan area
and shape of at least one secondary container. The main container
has a carrying handle, and secondary containers that also have
carrying handles can serve alternatively as main containers. Thus
the system is highly versatile in that various combinations of the
containers are nestable for use in a variety of situations. Also
disclosed is a point-of-sale display including multiple sets or
likenesses of the containers In different combinations thereof.
Inventors: |
Randolph; Lindsay Bernays;
(Beverly Hills, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHELDON MAK ROSE & ANDERSON PC
100 Corson Street, Third Floor
PASADENA
CA
91103-3842
US
|
Assignee: |
MARKWINS BEAUTY PRODUCTS,
INC.
Industry
CA
|
Family ID: |
39871152 |
Appl. No.: |
11/736332 |
Filed: |
April 17, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/505 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 7/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/505 |
International
Class: |
B65D 21/00 20060101
B65D021/00 |
Claims
1. A modular container comprising: (a) a main container comprising
a generally planar main bottom wall member, and a generally
cylindrical upstanding main side wall member, the main side wall
member being joined to the main bottom wall member along a
perimeter extremity of the main bottom wall member to form a main
storage cavity, the main storage cavity having a main plan area and
shape that is substantially uniform from the main bottom wall
member to an upper extremity of the main storage cavity; (b) a
plurality of secondary containers, the secondary containers being
insertable into the main storage cavity in stacked layers, one or
more of the secondary containers being formed to occupy
substantially the entire plan area of the main container, the
plurality of secondary containers, when stacked in the main storage
cavity, substantially filling a volume portion of the main storage
cavity extending from the bottom wall member to an upper surface of
the uppermost of the stacked secondary containers.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the shape of the main plan
area is generally rectangular.
3. The container of claim 1, wherein the shape of the main plan
area is generally hexagonal.
4. The container of claim 1, wherein the shape of the main plan
area is generally elliptical.
5. The container of claim 1, wherein the main container further
comprises a closure flap structure movably connected to the main
side wall for covering the storage cavity.
6. The container of claim 5, wherein the main plan shape is
generally rectangular, the main side wall having opposite side
portions and opposite end portions, the closure flap structure
comprising a pair of first flap members respectively connected to
the opposite end portions, the first flap members having a first
fastener structure for securing same in a closed and overlapping
condition.
7. The container of claim 6, wherein the first fastener structure
comprises a mating pair of hook and loop members affixed to facing
surfaces of the first flap members.
8. The container of claim 6, wherein the closure flap structure
further comprises a pair of second flap members connected to the
opposite side wall portions for closing the main storage
cavity.
9. The container of claim 8, further comprising a second fastener
structure for selectively connecting the second flap members,
selectively with the second flap members being in overlapping
relation to the first flap members when the first flap members are
in the closed condition.
10. The container of claim 9, wherein the second closure structure
extends along marginal edge portions of the second flap members
opposite the side wall portions.
11. The container of claim 9, wherein the second closure structure
comprises a mating pair of zipper members.
12. The container of claim 1, wherein the main container further
comprises main carrying handle means having a pair of main carrying
straps connected to respective main side wall members.
13. The container of claim 12, wherein each of the main carrying
straps has spaced apart connections to the main side wall and
forming a handle loop portion, the handle loop portions being
adapted for being positioned in adjacency above the main side wall
member to form a singular handle.
14. The container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the secondary
containers is a pack container comprising a pack bottom wall
member, and a generally cylindrical upstanding pack side wall
member, the pack side wall member being joined to the pack bottom
wall member along a perimeter extremity of the pack bottom wall
member to form a pack storage cavity, the pack storage cavity
having a pack plan area that is substantially uniform from the pack
bottom wall member to an upper extremity of the pack storage
cavity.
15. The container of claim 14, the pack container comprises an
openable pack top wall connected to the pack side wall along an
edge portion thereof, and pack fastener means for selectively
securing the pack top wall in a closed condition in generally
parallel relation to the pack bottom wall.
16. The container of claim 15, wherein the pack container further
comprises a pack carrying strap connected to the pack top wall
member.
17. The container of claim 15, wherein the pack container further
comprises a pocket structure connected to an inside surface of the
pack top wall and covering a portion thereof, the pocket structure
forming a plurality of parallel-spaced pocket channels for holding
respective handles of implements to be carried.
18. The container of claim 17, wherein the pack container further
comprises a pack pocket flap connected to the pack top wall member
in spaced relation to the pocket structure and having a storage
position covering a portion of the pack packet structure for
preventing contact between implements carried by the pocket
structure and other contents of the pack container.
19. The container of claim 14, further comprising a set of tertiary
containers associated with the pack container, each tertiary
container comprising a tertiary bottom wall member, and a generally
cylindrical upstanding tertiary side wall member, the tertiary side
wall member being joined to the tertiary bottom wall member along a
perimeter extremity of the tertiary bottom wall member to form a
tertiary storage cavity, the tertiary storage cavity having a plan
area that is substantially uniform from the tertiary bottom wall
member to an upper extremity of the storage cavity, the set of
tertiary containers being insertable in laterally adjacent relation
within the pack storage cavity to occupy substantially all of the
pack plan area.
20. The container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the secondary
containers is a folio container comprising a folio panel member
having front surface, a back surface forming a plurality of folio
panel portions, the folio panel member having a generally flattened
condition, and a folded condition wherein the panel portions are in
generally facing relation, the folio container, when in the folded
condition having a folio plan area and shape that is approximately
the same as the main plan area and shape.
21. The container of claim 20, wherein the folio container further
comprises at least one folio pocket structure being substantially
co-extensive with one of the folio panel portions and having a
folio pocket fastener for selectively securing the folio pocket in
a closed condition.
22. The container of claim 21, wherein the folio pocket structure
is removably connected to the corresponding folio panel member.
23. The container of claim 20, wherein the at least one folio
pocket structure comprises a mesh wall portion for facilitating
drying contents thereof, and the folio container further comprises
a hook member movably connected proximate an edge margin of the
front surface of the folio panel member for hanging the folio
container in the flattened condition thereof from an external
support.
24. The container of claim 20, wherein the folio container further
comprises folio fastener means for releasably holding the folio
container in the closed condition thereof.
25. The container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the secondary
containers is a pocket container comprising: (a) a facing pair of
main pocket member portions forming a main pocket having a plan
area and shape that is approximately the same as the main plan area
and shape, and a main pocket fastener for selectively securing the
main pocket in a closed condition thereof; and (b) a secondary
pocket member portion connected to one of the main pocket member
portions in facing relation thereto for forming a secondary pocket,
and a secondary pocket fastener for selectively securing the
secondary pocket in a closed condition thereof.
26. The container of claim 25, wherein the pocket container further
comprises a tertiary pocket member portion connected to the
secondary pocket member portion in facing relation thereto for
forming a tertiary pocket, and a tertiary pocket fastener for
selectively securing the tertiary pocket in a closed condition
thereof.
27. The container of claim 25, wherein at least one pocket member
of the pocket container comprises a mesh material for facilitating
drying of pocket contents of the pocket container.
28. A point-of-sale modular container system comprising: (a) a main
container comprising a generally planar main bottom wall member,
and a generally cylindrical upstanding main side wall member, the
main side wall member being joined to the main bottom wall member
along a perimeter extremity of the main bottom wall member to form
a main storage cavity, the main storage cavity having a main plan
area and shape that is substantially uniform from the main bottom
wall member to an upper extremity of the main storage cavity; (b) a
plurality of secondary containers, the secondary containers being
insertable into the main storage cavity in stacked layers, one or
more of the secondary containers being formed to occupy
substantially the entire plan area of the main container, the
plurality of secondary containers, when stacked in the main storage
cavity, substantially filling a volume portion of the main storage
cavity extending from the bottom wall member to an upper surface of
the uppermost of the stacked secondary containers, at least one of
the secondary containers is a pack container comprising: (i) a pack
bottom wall member; (ii) a generally cylindrical upstanding pack
side wall member, the pack side wall member being joined to the
pack bottom wall member along a perimeter extremity of the pack
bottom wall member to form a pack storage cavity, the pack storage
cavity having a pack plan area that is substantially uniform from
the pack bottom wall member to an upper extremity of the pack
storage cavity; and (iii) a handle structure; (c) a plurality of
tertiary containers associated with the pack container, each
tertiary container comprising a tertiary bottom wall member, and a
generally cylindrical upstanding tertiary side wall member, the
tertiary side wall member being joined to the tertiary bottom wall
member along a perimeter extremity of the tertiary bottom wall
member to form a tertiary storage cavity, the tertiary storage
cavity having a plan area that is substantially uniform from the
tertiary bottom wall member to an upper extremity of the tertiary
storage cavity, one or more of the tertiary containers being
insertable within the pack storage cavity to occupy substantially
all of the pack plan area, a plurality of the tertiary containers
substantially filling a volume portion of the pack storage cavity
extending from the pack bottom wall member to an upper surface of
the uppermost of the tertiary containers.
29. The container system of claim 28, wherein at least some of the
tertiary containers are insertable in laterally adjacent relation
within the pack storage cavity to occupy substantially all of the
pack plan area.
30. The container system of claim 28, wherein at least one of the
tertiary containers is insertable within the pack storage cavity to
occupy substantially all of the pack plan area.
31. The container system of claim 28, further comprising a rack for
displaying at least some nestable container subsets of the
system.
32. The container system of claim 28, further comprising a chart
for identifying at least some nestable container subsets of the
system.
33. A modular container comprising: (a) a main container comprising
a generally planar main bottom wall member, and a generally
cylindrical upstanding main side wall member, the main side wall
member being joined to the main bottom wall member along a
perimeter extremity of the main bottom wall member to form a main
storage cavity, the main storage cavity having a main plan area and
shape that is substantially uniform from the main bottom wall
member to an upper extremity of the main storage cavity; (b) a
plurality of secondary containers, the secondary containers being
insertable into the main storage cavity in stacked layers, one or
more of the secondary containers being formed to occupy
substantially the entire plan area of the main container, the
plurality of secondary containers, when stacked in the main storage
cavity, substantially filling a volume portion of the main storage
cavity extending from the bottom wall member to an upper surface of
the uppermost of the stacked secondary containers; (c) at least one
of the secondary containers being a pack container comprising: (i)
a pack bottom wall member; (ii) a generally cylindrical upstanding
pack side wall member, the pack side wall member being joined to
the pack bottom wall member along a perimeter extremity of the pack
bottom wall member to form a pack storage cavity, the pack storage
cavity having a pack plan area that is substantially uniform from
the pack bottom wall member to an upper extremity of the pack
storage cavity; and (iii) a handle structure; and (d) a plurality
of tertiary containers associated with the pack container, each
tertiary container comprising a tertiary bottom wall member, and a
generally cylindrical upstanding tertiary side wall member, the
tertiary side wall member being joined to the tertiary bottom wall
member along a perimeter extremity of the tertiary bottom wall
member to form a tertiary storage cavity, the tertiary storage
cavity having a plan area that is substantially uniform from the
tertiary bottom wall member to an upper extremity of the tertiary
storage cavity, one or more of the tertiary containers being
insertable within the pack storage cavity to occupy substantially
all of the pack plan area, a plurality of the tertiary containers
substantially filling a volume portion of the pack storage cavity
extending from the pack bottom wall member to an upper surface of
the uppermost of the tertiary containers.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to portable containers such as
garment bags, carrying cases, and the like having modular outer and
inner components.
[0002] Containers having nested components of different dimensions
are known, being disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos.
2,574,089 to Cochran, 3,861,504, to McGraw, 4,273,223 to Tomlinson,
4,973,674 to Landes, 5,894,975 to Holden et al., and 6,186,201 to
Salz, and Application Publication 2005/0016808 by Sapyta. The
various configurations disclosed in these documents include
removable liners, attachable inside pockets, inserts, and
interchangeable outside covers.
[0003] Modular containers of the prior art typically exhibit one or
more of the following disadvantages:
[0004] 1. They are difficult to use in that they require
manipulation of internal fasteners;
[0005] 2. They lack versatility in that they have few, if any,
alternative storage configurations; and
[0006] 3. They are expensive to manufacture in that they are
excessively complicated, have excessively expensive components,
and/or are difficult to assemble.
[0007] Thus there is a need for a container system that is easy to
use, particularly versatile, and inexpensive to provide.
SUMMARY
[0008] The present invention meets this need by providing a modular
container system having a multiplicity of selectable configurations
and arrangements. In one aspect of the invention, the system
includes a main container including a generally planar main bottom
wall member, and a generally cylindrical upstanding main side wall
member, the main side wall member being joined to the main bottom
wall member along a perimeter extremity of the main bottom wall
member to form a main storage cavity that has a main plan area and
shape that is substantially uniform from the main bottom wall
member to an upper extremity of the main storage cavity; a
plurality of secondary containers that are insertable into the main
storage cavity in stacked layers, one or more of the secondary
containers being formed to occupy substantially the entire plan
area of the main container. The plurality of secondary containers,
when stacked in the main storage cavity, substantially fill a
volume portion of the main storage cavity that extends from the
bottom wall member to an upper surface of the uppermost of the
stacked secondary containers. The main container can further
include a closure flap structure that is movably connected to the
main side wall for covering the storage cavity.
[0009] The main plan shape can be generally rectangular, hexagonal,
elliptical, or other shape. As used herein, elliptical includes
circular and oval. In the case of the main plan shape being
generally rectangular, the main side wall can have opposite side
portions and opposite end portions, the closure flap structure
including a pair of first flap members respectively connected to
the opposite end portions and having a first fastener structure for
securing same in a closed and overlapping condition. The first
fastener structure can include a mating pair of hook and loop
members affixed to facing surfaces of the first flap members. The
closure flap structure can further include a pair of second flap
members connected to the opposite side wall portions for closing
the main storage cavity. Preferably a second fastener structure is
provided for selectively connecting the second flap members, with
the second flap members being in overlapping relation to the first
flap members when the first flap members are in the closed
condition. The second closure structure can extend along marginal
edge portions of the second flap members opposite the side wall
portions. The second closure structure can include a mating pair of
zipper members.
[0010] Preferably the main container further includes main carrying
handle means, which can include a pair of main carrying straps
connected to respective main side wall members. Each of the main
carrying straps can have spaced apart connections to the main side
wall for forming a handle loop portion, the handle loop portions
being adapted for being positioned in adjacency above the main side
wall member to form a singular handle.
[0011] Preferably at least one of the secondary containers is a
pack container including a pack bottom wall member, and a generally
cylindrical upstanding pack side wall member, the pack side wall
member being joined to the pack bottom wall member along a
perimeter extremity of the pack bottom wall member to form a pack
storage cavity, for providing the pack storage cavity with a pack
plan area that is substantially uniform from the pack bottom wall
member to an upper extremity of the pack storage cavity. The pack
container can include an openable pack top wall connected to the
pack side wall along an edge portion thereof, and pack fastener
means for selectively securing the pack top wall in a closed
condition in generally parallel relation to the pack bottom wall.
Preferably the pack container further includes a pack carrying
strap connected to the pack top wall member for facilitating
lifting of the pack container from the main container. The pack
container can further include a pocket structure connected to an
inside surface of the pack top wall and covering a portion thereof,
the pocket structure forming a plurality of parallel-spaced pocket
channels for holding respective handles of implements to be
carried. Preferably the pack container further includes a pack
pocket flap connected to the pack top wall member in spaced
relation to the pocket structure and having a storage position
covering a portion of the pack packet structure for preventing
contact between implements carried by the pocket structure and
other contents of the pack container.
[0012] An important optional feature of the present invention is a
set of tertiary containers associated with the pack container, each
tertiary container including a tertiary bottom wall member, and a
generally cylindrical upstanding tertiary side wall member, the
tertiary side wall member being joined to the tertiary bottom wall
member along a perimeter extremity of the tertiary bottom wall
member to form a tertiary storage cavity, the tertiary storage
cavity having a plan area that is substantially uniform from the
tertiary bottom wall member to an upper extremity of the storage
cavity, the set of tertiary containers being insertable in
laterally adjacent relation within the pack storage cavity to
occupy substantially all of the pack plan area. With this feature,
the pack container can function as a main container, the tertiary
containers functioning as secondary containers.
[0013] At least one of the secondary containers can be a folio
container including a folio panel member having front surface, a
back surface forming a plurality of folio panel portions, the folio
panel member having a generally flattened condition, and a folded
condition wherein the panel portions are in generally facing
relation, the folio container, when in the folded condition having
a folio plan area and shape that is approximately the same as the
main plan area and shape. The folio container can further include
at least one folio pocket structure being substantially
co-extensive with one of the folio panel portions and having a
folio pocket fastener for selectively securing the folio pocket in
a closed condition. One or more pocket structure can be removably
connected to the corresponding folio panel member, and one or more
can include a mesh wall portion for facilitating drying contents
thereof, the folio container further including a hook member
movably connected proximate an edge margin of the front surface of
the folio panel member for hanging the folio container in the
flattened condition thereof from an external support. Preferably
the folio container further includes folio fastener means for
releasably holding the folio container in its closed condition.
[0014] At least one of the secondary containers can be a pocket
container including a facing pair of main pocket members forming a
main pocket having a plan area and shape that is approximately the
same as the main plan area and shape, and a main pocket fastener
for selectively securing the main pocket in a closed condition
thereof; and a secondary pocket member connected to one of the main
pocket members in facing relation thereto for forming a secondary
pocket, and a secondary pocket fastener for selectively securing
the secondary pocket in a closed condition thereof. The pocket
container can further include a tertiary pocket member connected to
the secondary pocket member in facing relation thereto for forming
a tertiary pocket, and a tertiary pocket fastener for selectively
securing the tertiary pocket in a closed condition thereof.
Preferably at least one pocket member of the pocket container
includes a mesh material for facilitating drying of pocket contents
of the pocket container.
[0015] In another aspect of the invention, a modular container
system includes the a main container; a plurality of the secondary
containers, at least one of which is a pack container; and a
plurality of the tertiary containers being associated with the pack
container and insertable within the pack storage cavity to occupy
substantially all of the pack plan area, a plurality of the
tertiary containers substantially filling a volume portion of the
pack storage cavity extending from the pack bottom wall member to
an upper surface of the uppermost of the tertiary containers. At
least some of the tertiary containers are preferably insertable in
laterally adjacent relation within the pack storage cavity to
occupy substantially all of the pack plan area. Also, or in the
alternative, at least one of the tertiary containers is insertable
within the pack storage cavity to occupy substantially all of the
pack plan area. Preferably the container system further includes a
rack for displaying or a chart for identifying at least some
nestable container subsets of the system.
DRAWINGS
[0016] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following description, appended claims, and accompanying
drawings, where:
[0017] FIG. 1 is an elevational perspective view of a set of
nestable containers of a modular container system according to the
present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a sectional side elevational view of showing
secondary containers of the container system of FIG. 1 stacked
within a main container thereof;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a pack container of the
system of FIG. 1 in an open condition and exposing tertiary
containers of the system;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another pack container
of the system of FIG. 1 in an open condition and exposing other
tertiary containers;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a lateral sectional view of a pocket container of
the system of FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a folio container of the
system of FIG. 1 in an open condition;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a side view of the folio container of FIG. 6;
[0024] FIG. 8A is a partial elevational perspective view of a
point-of-sale display incorporating plural combinations of
containers of the system of FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 8B is a partial elevational perspective view showing
the remainder of the point-of-sale display of FIG. 8A;
[0026] FIG. 9 is an elevational perspective view showing an
alternative configuration of the container system of FIG. 1;
[0027] FIG. 10 is an elevational perspective view as in FIG. 4,
showing another alternative configuration of the container system;
and
[0028] FIG. 11 is an elevational perspective view showing a main
container of FIG. 10 in an expanded condition.
DESCRIPTION
[0029] The present invention is directed to a modular container
system that is particularly versatile, having a variety of
selectable configurations. With reference to FIGS. 1-11 of the
drawings, a modular container 10 includes a main container 12, and
a plurality of secondary containers 14, the secondary containers
being stackable within the main container for occupying
substantially an entire plan area of the main container. As shown
in FIG. 1, the secondary containers 14 can include, for example, a
pocket container 16, a folio container 18, and one or more pack
containers 20, which may include a major pack container 20A and a
minor pack container 20B.
[0030] In the configuration of FIG. 1, the main container 12
includes a generally planar main bottom wall member 22, and a
generally cylindrical upstanding main side member 24 that is joined
to the main bottom wall member along a perimeter extremity 25 of
the main bottom wall member to form a main storage cavity 26. The
main storage cavity has a main plan area and shape that is
substantially uniform from the main bottom wall member to an upper
extremity of the main storage cavity, the main plan area being
generally rectangular in the exemplary configuration of FIG. 1, so
that the main side member includes opposite side wall portions 28
and opposite end wall portions 29. As further shown in FIG. 1, the
main container 12 also includes a pair of first flap members 30
that are connected along respective upper extremities of the end
wall portions 29, and a pair of second flap members 32 that are
connected along respective extremities of the end wall portions 29.
One of the first flap members, designated 30A, can have a generally
rectangular flap pocket panel 34 fastened thereto proximally along
three perimeter edge margins of the flap member, and a zip-type
closure 35 installed along a fourth edge margin for forming a
convenient storage pocket. As shown in FIG. 1 wherein the main
container 12 is in an open condition, the pocket panel 34 is on an
outwardly facing surface of the first flap member 30A, being on the
underside of the flap member in the closed condition of the main
container 12. Preferably the pocket panel 34 is formed of a
net-type material for visual access to stored contents of the
pocket. A suitable fastener, such as a hook-type fastener element
36, can be affixed opposite the pocket panel 34, and a mating
fastener element 37 can be affixed on a corresponding surface of
other first flap member, designated 30B, for releasably holding the
first flap members 30 in overlapping relation in the closed
condition of the main container 12. Further, a pair of elastic
strips 38 can be fastened at spaced intervals and in
parallel-spaced relation to the first flap member 30B opposite the
mating fastener element for convenient storage of slender objects
such as writing instruments (not shown).
[0031] The main container 12 also has a carrying handle structure,
which can be in the form of a pair of handle loop elements 40, one
such handle loop element being attached to the outside surface of
one side wall portion 28 of the main side member 24 as shown in
FIG. 1. A corresponding handle loop element (not shown in FIG. 1)
is attached to the opposite side wall portion 28. Further and
optional features of the main container 12 include an outside
pocket 42 being formed by an outer pocket member that overlaps a
lower portion of one end wall portion 29, and a series of inside
pockets 44 that are formed by attachment of an inner pocket member
46 at spaced locations to the inside surface of the main side
member 24.
[0032] FIG. 2 shows the modular container system 10 with the
secondary containers 14 placed in stacked relation within the main
container 12, the secondary containers including, for example, the
major and minor pack containers 20A and 20B, the pocket container
16, and the folio container 18. It will be understood that the
stacking can be in any order. Other orientations of some or all of
the secondary containers are also possible, including either side
or end edge portions thereof facing downwardly. In the case of side
edge portions facing downwardly, it is preferred that the normal
stacked height of a subset of the secondary containers be equal to
or slightly less than the internal width of the main container 12.
In the case of end edge portions facing downwardly, it is preferred
that the length of the secondary containers be not greater than the
internal height of the main container 12. In this case, the
secondary containers can be oriented facing or parallel to either
the end wall portions 29 or the side wall portions 28 of the main
container 12 (in which case it is preferred that the normal stacked
height of a subset of the secondary containers be equal to or
slightly less than the internal width of the main container 12 as
in the case of side edge portions facing downwardly, described
above).
[0033] The pack containers 20 are configured for stacking within
the main storage cavity 26 as indicated above, each having a
generally planar pack bottom wall member 52, and a generally
cylindrical upstanding pack side wall member 53 that is joined to
the pack bottom wall member along a perimeter extremity 54 of the
pack bottom wall member to form a pack storage cavity 55. The pack
storage cavity has a pack plan area and shape that is substantially
uniform from the pack bottom wall member to an upper extremity of
the pack storage cavity, the pack plan area being generally
rectangular in the exemplary configuration of FIG. 1, and only
slightly smaller than the main plan area of the main container 12.
Thus each pack container 20 occupies substantially the entire main
plan area when placed within the main container 12. As further
shown in FIG. 1, each pack container 12 also includes an openable
pack top wall member 56 that in its closed condition is generally
planar and parallel to the bottom wall member 52, a zip-type pack
fastener 57, and a carrying handle, designated pack handle 58, that
is connected to the pack top wall member 56, the handle 58
facilitating lifting of the pack container 20 out of the main
storage cavity 26. In the exemplary configuration of FIG. 1 and as
further described below, one of the pack containers, designated
major pack container 20A, is somewhat taller than the other,
designated minor pack container 20B. Also, the pack handle 58 can
be oriented laterally on the pack top wall member 56 as shown on
the major pack container 20A, or longitudinally as shown on the
minor pack container 20B.
[0034] Also shown in FIG. 1 are a plurality of tertiary containers
60 that are configured for being variously arranged within one or
more of the secondary containers 20 and/or the main container 12.
Exemplary tertiary containers shown in FIG. 1 are a plurality of
core containers 61 including a pair of maxi-core containers 61A
that are enclosed in adjacent relationship within the minor pack
container 20B and occupying substantially the full plan area
thereof. Another maxi-core container 61A is enclosed in the major
pack container 20A. Also in the major pack container 20A is a
mini-pack container 20C, the mini-pack container having components
corresponding to the pack containers 20A and 20B, except that the
mini-pack container 20C is of reduced length for sharing the pack
plan area of the pack container 20A with the maxi-core container
61A, the containers 20C and 61 occupying substantially the entire
pack plan area of the pack container 20A as also shown in FIG. 3. A
pair of smaller tertiary containers, designated mini-core
containers 61B, are enclosed side-by-side in the mini-pack
container 20C and occupying substantially the full plan area
thereof. The construction of the core containers 61 is similar to
that of the pack containers 20, having counterparts of the pack
bottom wall member, designated core bottom wall member 52', the
pack side wall member, designated core side wall member 53', the
pack top wall member, designated core top wall member 56', and the
pack fastener, designated core fastener 57'. In the exemplary
configuration of FIG. 1, the core containers 61 are not provided
with counterparts of the pack handle, although it will be
understood that such handles can be provided within the scope of
the present invention. Although the pack containers 20 as well as a
main portion of the folio container 18 are typically formed of
opaque materials, the core containers 62 are preferably formed
mainly of transparent materials for convenient viewing of the
contents thereof.
[0035] As yet further shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the major pack
container 20A encloses another and intermediate container,
designated packet container 62. The structure of the packet
container 62 corresponds to that of the core containers 61 (having
a packet bottom wall member 52'', a packet side wall member 53'', a
packet top wall member 56'', and a packet fastener 57''), but
having a plan outline that occupies substantially the entire plan
area of the major pack container 20A. Also, the packet container 62
is located in stacked relation to the combination of the pack
container 20C and the core container 61A that are included within
the pack container 20A. It will be understood that the pack
container 20A is of sufficient internal height to accommodate the
above-described containers and, although there is no restriction on
the relative heights of the pack container 20C (and the adjacent
maxi-core container 61A), it is preferred that the internal height
of the pack container 20A be greater than that of the minor pack
container 20B by the additional height of the packet container 62.
Also, the packet container 62 is preferably formed mainly of a mesh
material for facilitating drying of its contents.
[0036] FIG. 4 shows the pack container 20B in an open condition,
the maxi-core containers 62A occupying same being exposed to view.
Also shown are optional features provided on the inside surface of
the pack top wall member 56, being a retainer member 63 and a cover
member 64. The retainer member 63 covers a significant portion of
the top wall member 56, being fastened thereto at generally
parallel-spaced intervals for forming a plurality of open storage
channels 65.
[0037] It is desirable that the main structural components of the
modular container system be somewhat flexible, both for
accommodating contents of arbitrary size and shape and also for
permitting the main container 12 to be located in variously
confined spaces. Some degree of reinforcement is preferred in the
main bottom wall member 22 and the second flap members 32, but
little stiffness is preferred in most others of the structural
components of the various containers. Accordingly in the exemplary
configuration of FIGS. 1 and 3, each of the pack containers 20, the
core containers 60, and the packet container 64, although being
generally rectangular in plan, has somewhat rounded corners for
conformance with the flexible main side member 24 of the main
container 12.
[0038] With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, the pocket
container 16, which is preferably formed mainly of a mesh material
for facilitating the drying wet or clamp contents, is generally
rectangular in plan, having a main pocket 66 that is provided with
a zip-type pocket fastener 67 that is located along a marginal
extremity portion of the container 16. An additional layer of the
mesh material is formed to provide a somewhat narrow second pocket
68 extending from an opposite marginal extremity portion of the
container 16 to a counterpart of the pocket fastener, designated
67', that is located approximately midway between the marginal
extremity portions. A further layer of the mesh material underlies
the second pocket 68 and extends to another counterpart of the
pocket fastener, designated 67'', that is located between the other
pocket fasteners to form a third pocket 69 of intermediate width.
In an exemplary implementation of the above, an outer pocket panel
70 extends from one element of the pocket fastener 67, being folded
and extending to an element of the pocket fastener 67', as shown in
FIG. 5. An inner pocket panel 71 extends from the other element of
the pocket fastener 67 to an element of the pocket fastener 67'',
the inner pocket panel 71 being fastened to the outer pocket panel
70 along a seam 72. The other elements of the pocket fasteners 67'
and 67'' are affixed to the inner pocket panel at appropriate
locations as shown in the drawings. Suitable tape reinforcements 73
are used in a conventional manner for fastening the outer and inner
pocket panels 70 and 71, and at side seams (not shown) of the
respective pockets 66, 68, and 69 of the pocket container 14.
[0039] Preferably the plan dimensions of the pocket container 16
are approximately the same as those of the pack containers 20A and
20B for permitting placement within the main container 12 oriented
generally parallel to the main bottom wall member 22 and occupying
substantially all of the plan area thereof. It is recognized that
the plan outline of the pocket container 16 can have a lesser
degree of corner rounding than that of the pack containers 20, in
which case the plan outline of the pocket container is preferably
slightly reduced in length and width as compared with that of the
pack containers 20A and 20B. Further, a slight reduction in the
plan profile of the pocket container 16 advantageously permits
storage thereof within either of the pack containers 20A and 20B,
while still occupying substantially all of the plan area of the
main container 12.
[0040] With particular reference to FIGS. 1, 6, and 7, the folio
container 14 includes a folio panel member 74 having a main panel
portion 75, an inside flap portion 76, and an outside flap portion
77 that overlaps the inside flap portion when the folio container
is in a closed condition as shown in FIG. 1. A counterpart of the
flap pocket panel, designated 34', is fastened along three
perimeter edge margins thereof to a front surface 78 of the folio
panel member and having a counterpart of the pocket fastener 67
extending along the remaining edge margin thereof to form a flap
pocket 79 on the outside flap portion 77, the front surface 78
forming an inside surface of the container 14 in the closed
condition thereof as shown in FIG. 1. Another pocket panel,
designated main pocket panel 80 is likewise fastened to the main
panel portion 75 in combination with another pocket fastener 67 to
form a main pocket 81 of the folio container 14. A tubular pocket
member 82 having another counterpart of the pocket fastener 67
extending between opposite side extremities thereof forms a tubular
pocket 83, the pocket member 82 being removably affixed to the main
pocket member by counterparts of the hook and mating fastener
elements 36 and 37. Further, a pouch container 85 that is formed by
a pouch pocket member 86 and having a counterpart of the pocket
fastener 67 is removably affixed to the front surface 78 within the
inside flap portion 76 of the folio panel member 74 by further
counterparts of the hook and mating fastener elements 36 and 37. As
further shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the pouch pocket member 86, as well
as the flap pocket panel 34', is formed of mesh material for
facilitating drying of contents thereof, and both the tubular
pocket member 82 and the main pocket panel 80 are formed of a
transparent material to permit viewing of contents thereof. Also
shown in FIG. 7 is a hook member 87 for hanging the folio container
from an external support (not shown). The hook member is pivotally
connected to the folio panel member 74 proximate an edge extremity
of the outside flap portion 77 by a loop-shaped anchor member 88,
and is releasably held in a stowed position against the flap pocket
panel 34' by another loop-shaped member, designated retainer member
89, the retainer member 89 being preferably formed of an elastic
material for facilitating engagement and disengagement of the hook
member 87. Moreover, a pair of folio fasteners 90 are provided for
holding the folio panel member 74 in the closed condition shown in
FIG. 1, each folio fastener including a mating pair of fastener
elements 90A and 90B, which can be of any suitable construction, a
magnetic fastener configuration being shown in the drawings.
Additionally, a counterpart of the pack handle, designated folio
handle 92, is affixed to the folio panel member 74 opposite the
front surface 78 and along a boundary of the main panel portion 75
and the outside flap portion 77, the folio handle facilitating
carrying the folio container 18 as well as for lifting same from
the main container 12.
[0041] Suitable materials for the bottom wall and side members 22
and 24, the first and second flap members 30 and 32, the outer
pocket member 43, and the handle loop elements 40 of the main
container 12 include 190 Denier Nylon.RTM. having a backing of
vinyl or rubber, available from Kar King of Guangzhou, China. This
material is also suitable for forming the bottom, side, and top
wall members 51, 52, and 56 of the pack containers 20, as well as
the folio panel member 74 of the folio container 18. A suitable
lining for this material is 210 Denier Nylon, also available from
Kar King. Suitable materials for the flap pocket panel 34 and the
inner pocket member 46 of the main container 12 include Nylon
netting having a diagonal pitch of approximately 4 mm. Materials
for the core bottom, side, and top wall members 51'', 52'', and
56'' of the core containers 61, and the main and tubular pocket
members 80 and 82 include transparent polyvinylchloride (PVC),
which is available from a variety of sources. Suitable materials
for the packet bottom, side, and top wall members 51'', 52'', and
55'' of the packet container 62, the outer and inner pocket panels
70 and 71 of the pocket container 16, and the flap pocket member
34' and the pouch pocket member 86 of the pouch container 85
include woven Nylon mesh having a pitch of approximately 0.5 mm in
both length and width directions, this material also being
available from a variety of sources.
[0042] An important feature of the present invention is that each
of the pack containers 20A, 20B, and 20C, can function as the main
container 12, in that each has a plan area and shape that is
substantially uniform from the bottom wall thereof to an upper
extremity of the respective storage cavity. Further in the case of
the major and minor pack containers 20A and 20B, plural
counterparts of the packet container 62 can be stacked therein,
substantially filling a volume portion of the pack storage cavity
55 from the bottom wall member 52 to the upper surface of the
uppermost of the stacked packet containers. Moreover, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3, a single packet container 62 forms one layer within
the major pack container 20A, and the combination of the mini-pack
container 20C and the maxi-core container 61A forms an additional
layer of containers stacked therein to substantially fill the
storage cavity 55 to the pack and core top wall members 56 and 56'
of the containers 20C and 61A. It will be understood that
substantially the same condition is present in the case of both
containers of the additional layer being maxi-core containers 61A.
It will be further understood that one or more counterparts of the
pocket container 16 can serve as secondary containers being stacked
within either of the pack containers 20A and 20B.
[0043] Accordingly, and with further reference to FIG. 8, these and
other advantageous combinations of containers according to the
present invention are exhibited in a point-of-sale display 100. The
point-of-sale display 100 includes a display rack 102 and a
plurality of arrangements of the container system 10 as described
herein. An exemplary embodiment of the display rack 102 includes a
rack panel member 104 having a plurality of shelf members 106
projecting therefrom, each of the shelf members being adapted for
separately supporting the individual containers of one or more of
the container systems 10, particular examples thereof being
designated container set 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F, 10G, 10H,
10I and 10J, in FIG. 8. Also, the display rack 102 is provided with
indicia 108 for identifying particular containers of each
arrangement and the location of each within the display, the
indicia being located on front facing surfaces of the shelf members
106 in the exemplary configuration of FIG. 8. Preferably, each of
the container sets of the display 100 includes a selection of
containers such that the largest of the containers of that
selection can hold all of the others to form a single unit having
an exposed handle means, whether the handle loop elements of the
main container 12, the pack handle 58 of one of the pack containers
20, or the folio handle 92 of the folio container 18. For example,
the container set 10A corresponds to the container system 10 as
shown in FIGS. 1-7, the other sets 10B-10J having different
selections and/or quantities of the various containers. It will be
understood that the container sets of the display 100 can be
represented by three-dimensional, or even two-dimensional
representations of the various containers. Further, the containers,
and/or representations thereof, can be attached directly to the
rack panel member 104. Moreover, the entire point-of-sale display
can be provided in the form of a poster or chart.
[0044] In the exemplary configuration of the container system 10
shown in FIGS. 1-8, suitable length, width, and height dimensions
for the various containers for providing the above-described
nestable arrangements are set forth in Table 1. It will be
understood that many other combinations of dimensions are also
suitable.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Exemplary Container Dimensions (cm) X XX Bag
XXL XL L M S XS SLIM SLIM SLIM Length 31 28.5 28.5 18.25 15.5 13
27.5 25.5 24 Width 20 18.5 18.5 14.7 12 7.5 15.5 16 16 Height 25 12
9 7 6.5 6.5 5 3 2
[0045] As indicated above, further combinations of containers
according to the present invention are advantageously nestable.
Some of these are set forth in Table 2 below for main and secondary
containers. It will be understood that combinations including the
main container 12 (XXL) can further include as tertiary containers
those listed as secondary containers for the pack containers 20A
(XL), 20B (L), and 20C (M) that are chosen. The nominal capacity of
the main container 12 (XXL) for secondary containers in the case of
the exemplary dimensions of Table 1 is represented by the
relation
25.ltoreq.12N1+9N2+7N3+2N4+3N5+5N6
where: [0046] N1=number of major pack containers 12A (XL); [0047]
N2=number of minor pack containers 12B (L); [0048] N3=number of
mini-pack containers 12C (M); [0049] N4=number of pocket containers
14 (XX SLIM); [0050] N5=number of packet containers 62 (X SLIM);
and [0051] N6=number of folio containers 18 (SLIM).
TABLE-US-00002 [0051] TABLE 2 Nestable Container Sets Main
Secondary M +XS(2) M +S L +XS(4) +XXSLIM or XSLIM L +XS(2) +S
+XXSLIM or XSLIM L +S(2) +XXSLIM or XSLIM L +XXSLIM +XSLIM(2) L
+XXSLIM or XSLIM +SLIM XL +XS(4) +XXSLIM +XSLIM XL +XS(2) +S
+XXSLIM +XSLIM XL +S(2) +XXSLIM +XSLIM XL +S +M +XXSLIM +XSLIM XL
+XXSLIM(2) +XSLIM(2) XL +XXSLIM +XSLIM +SLIM XXL +XL(N1) +L(N2)
+M(2N3) +XXSLIM(N4) +SLIM(N5) +SLIM(N6)
[0052] With further reference to FIG. 9, and alternative
configuration of the container system, designated 10', is generally
hexagonal in plan, having a main container 12' and counterparts of
the pack containers, designated major pack container 20A', minor
pack container 20B', a pair of mini-pack containers 20C', and three
mini-pack containers 20D', the pack containers shown in FIG. 9
having components corresponding to the pack containers 20 of FIGS.
1-8. The exemplary configuration of the main container 12' as shown
in FIG. 9 includes counterparts of the main side member, designated
24', and the (zip-type) closure, designated 35', with a lid 31 that
includes a main top wall 33.
[0053] With further reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, another
alternative configuration of the container system, designated 10'',
is generally circular, elliptical (or oval) in plan, having a main
container 12'' and counterparts of the pack containers, designated
major pack container 20A'', minor pack container 20B'', a pair of
mini-pack containers 20C'', and three mini-pack containers 20D'',
the pack containers shown in FIG. 10 also having components
corresponding to the pack containers 20 of FIGS. 1-8. The exemplary
configuration of the main container 12'' as shown in FIG. 10
includes counterparts of the main side member, designated 24'', and
the closure, designated 35'', with a lid 31' that includes a main
top wall 33'. An additional feature of the main container 12'' is a
base portion 23 that is connected to the main side member 24'' by a
zip-type expansion fastener 27, the container also having a
flexible bellows wall member 39 connecting the base portion 23 to
the main side member 24'' for providing an expanded condition of
the container 12'' as shown in FIG. 11.
[0054] Although the present invention has been described in
considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions
thereof, other versions are possible. For example, the main
container 12' of FIG. 9 and/or the main container 12'' of FIGS. 10
and 11 can be provided with counterparts of the handle loop
elements 40 of FIG. 1. Similarly, the pack containers 20A', 20B',
20C', and/or 20D of FIG. 10, as well as the pack containers 20A'',
20B'', 20C'', and 20D'' of FIG. 10 can be provided with
counterparts of the pack handle 58 of FIG. 1. Further, counterparts
of the handle loop elements 40 can be substituted for the pack
handle 58, and vice-versa. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the
appended claims should not necessarily be limited to the
description of the preferred versions contained herein.
* * * * *