U.S. patent application number 12/703018 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-12 for modular container system.
Invention is credited to JAMES SINNETT DAVIES.
Application Number | 20100200438 12/703018 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42539511 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100200438 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DAVIES; JAMES SINNETT |
August 12, 2010 |
MODULAR CONTAINER SYSTEM
Abstract
A modular container system may enable a user to create a set of
interconnected containers to organize and pack small items. The
modular container system may be assembled in various ways to hold
one or more items in separate compartments of varying size. The
modular container system may have the same diameter as a typical
sports water bottle, making the container system easy to pack and
readily accessible to the user. The modular container system may be
useful in various situations where a person needs to organize and
store items. Applications may include outdoor sports and
recreation, military, automotive, arts and crafts, construction
tools and materials, food storage, toy storage, and the like.
Inventors: |
DAVIES; JAMES SINNETT;
(Polson, MT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
James S. Davies
37031 Schaefer Road
Polson
MT
59860
US
|
Family ID: |
42539511 |
Appl. No.: |
12/703018 |
Filed: |
February 9, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61151237 |
Feb 10, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/223 ;
220/4.27 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 71/502 20130101;
B65D 81/3205 20130101; B65D 21/083 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/223 ;
220/4.27 |
International
Class: |
B65D 69/00 20060101
B65D069/00; B65D 8/00 20060101 B65D008/00 |
Claims
1. A container comprising: at least one open ended container, each
open ended container having a first open end and a second open end;
at least one end cap adapted to cover at least one of the first
open end and the second open end; and at least one connecting part
adapted to interconnect adjacent ones of the open ended container
when the at least one open ended container is at least two open
ended containers.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the at least one open ended
container includes at least a first open ended container and a
second open ended container.
3. The container of claim 2, wherein the connecting part is a
floorless connecting part fluidly connecting the first open ended
container with the second open ended container.
4. The container of claim 2, wherein the connecting part is a
divided connecting part providing separate chambers within the
first open ended container and the second open ended container.
5. The container of claim 2, wherein: the first open end of the
first open ended container and the first open end of the second
open ended container are interchangeably connected with either a
floorless connecting part or a divided connecting part; and the
second open end of the first open ended container and the second
end of the second open ended container are each covered by the end
cap.
6. The container of claim 2, further comprising at least one gasket
positioned between adjacent components of the container.
7. The container of claim 1, further comprising: threads on each
first open end and second open end; and mating threads on each end
cap and each connecting part.
8. The container of claim 7, wherein the threads and mating threads
provide water resistance against water passing through the threads
and mating threads when in an interconnected position.
9. The container of claim 1, wherein at least one end cap includes
perforations.
10. The container of claim 1, wherein adjacent components are
joined together to form a mechanical seal therebetween.
11. The container of claim 10, wherein the mechanical seal
comprises a flange on the open ended container.
12. The container of claim 1, wherein the open ended containers are
transparent.
13. A container system comprising: multiple open ended containers,
each open ended container having a first open end and a second open
end; at least one connecting part adapted to interconnect adjacent
ones of the open ended containers; and a first end cap and a second
end cap covering ends of the container system, wherein the
connecting part is selected from the group consisting of a
floorless connecting part and a divided connecting part.
14. The container system of claim 13, further comprising: threads
on each first open end and second open end; and mating threads on
each end cap and each connecting part.
15. The container system of claim 13, wherein at least one end cap
includes perforations.
16. The container system of claim 13, wherein: adjacent components
are joined together to form a mechanical seal therebetween; and the
mechanical seal comprises a flange on the open ended container.
17. The container of claim 16, wherein the mechanical seal
increases water resistance of the container system.
18. A kit comprising: a container comprising: at least one open
ended container, each open ended container having a first open end
and a second open end; at least one end cap adapted to cover at
least one of the first open end and the second open end; and at
least one connecting part adapted to interconnect adjacent ones of
the open ended container when the at least one open ended container
is at least two open ended containers; and supplies stored within
the container.
19. The kit of claim 18, wherein the supplies are related to a
common purpose.
20. The kit of claim 18, further comprising: threads on each first
open end and second open end; and mating threads on each end cap
and each connecting part.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/151,237, filed Feb. 10, 2009.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to containers, and
more specifically to modular containers and modular container
systems.
[0003] In many activities, including outdoor sports and recreation,
it is difficult to organize, pack and make accessible small items.
For certain activities, water resistant storage may be desired.
Often, users store items in plastic storage bags or tins stowed in
various compartments in a portable carry device, such as a
backpack. Plastic bags may be crushed or punctured, spilling their
contents and losing water resistance.
[0004] As can be seen, there is a need for a container system that
may organize, store and make accessible items stored therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In one aspect of the present invention, a container
comprises at least one open ended container, each open ended
container having a first open end and a second open end; at least
one end cap adapted to cover at least one of the first open end and
the second open end; and at least one connecting part adapted to
interconnect adjacent ones of the open ended container when the at
least one open ended container is at least two open ended
containers.
[0006] In another aspect of the present invention, a container
system comprises multiple open ended containers, each open ended
container having a first open end and a second open end; at least
one connecting part adapted to interconnect adjacent ones of the
open ended containers; and a first end cap and a second end cap
covering ends of the container system, wherein the connecting part
is selected from the group consisting of a floorless connecting
part and a divided connecting part.
[0007] In a further aspect of the present invention, a kit
comprises a container comprising at least one open ended container,
each open ended container having a first open end and a second open
end; at least one end cap adapted to cover at least one of the
first open end and the second open end; and at least one connecting
part adapted to interconnect adjacent ones of the open ended
container when the at least one open ended container is at least
two open ended containers; and supplies stored within the
container.
[0008] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following drawings, description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular container system
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the modular container
system taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the modular
container system of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modular container system
according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the modular container
system taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and
[0014] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a modular
container system according to a further embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The following detailed description is of the best currently
contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the
invention.
[0016] The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but
is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general
principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is
best defined by the appended claims.
[0017] Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally
provides a modular container system that may enable a user to
create a set of interconnected containers to organize and pack
small items. In one embodiment of the present invention, the
modular container system may have the same diameter as a typical
sports water bottle, making the container system easy to pack and
readily accessible to the user. The modular container system may be
useful in various situations where a person needs to organize and
store items. Applications may include outdoor sports and
recreation, military, automotive, arts and crafts, construction
tools and materials, food storage, toy storage, and the like.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of a
modular container system 10 according to an embodiment of the
present invention. As described in greater detail below, the
container system 10 may include at least one open ended container
12. Multiple open ended containers 12-2, 12-4, 12-6 may be coupled
together by, for example, either a floorless connecting part 16 or
a dividing connecting part 18. End caps 14 may be removably
disposed on each end of the container system 10.
[0019] The floorless connecting part 16 may connect two adjacent
open ended containers 12-2, 12-4 to provide a single storage
section. The divided connecting part 18 may connect two adjacent
open ended containers 12-4, 12-6 to provide two separate container
sections coupled together.
[0020] Each of the open ended containers 12-2, 12-4, 12-6 may have
the same or different heights. The diameter of each of the open
ended containers 12-2, 12-4, 12-6 making up a container system 10
may be the same and may approximate the diameter of a sports water
bottle (for example, from about 2 to about 3 inches). The container
system 10 may be manufactured with various standard diameters. For
example, the container system 10 may have a diameter between 10 and
12 inches.
[0021] The container systems 10 may be manufactured from various
materials and with various colors. Typically, the open ended
containers 12, the end caps 14, the floorless connecting parts 16
and the divided connecting parts 18 may be made of plastic or
metal. In one embodiment of the present invention, the open ended
containers 12 may be made of a clear plastic. In another embodiment
of the present invention, the various colors may correspond with
various standard diameters, thereby aiding matching components of
the same diameter.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a cross-sectional view
of the container system 10 of FIG. 1. Gaskets 20 may be included
between adjacent components of the container system 10. For
example, the gasket 20 may be included between the end cap 14 and
the open ended container 12-2. The gasket 20 may also be included
between open ended container 12-2 and floorless connection part 16.
The gaskets 20 may provide enhanced water resistance or
watertightness. The gaskets 20 may be optional, as water resistance
may be provided by a mechanical seal between the components, as
described in greater detail below.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown an exploded
perspective view of the container system 10 of FIG. 1. Male threads
24 may be disposed on each end of the open ended containers 12.
Female threads 26, mating with the male threads 24, may be disposed
in the end caps 14, the floorless connecting parts 16 and the
divided connecting parts 18. The male threads 24 and the female
threads 26 may permit assembly of the container system 10 to yield
the assembled container assembly as shown in FIG. 1. The threads
24, 26 may be any type of threads known in the art. For example,
the threads 24, 26 may have undulations cut at mating angles to
help provide water resistance within the threads.
[0024] While FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, show a uniform width
container, variable widths may within the scope of the present
invention. For example, the open ended containers 12 may have a
taper at the necks of the container, near the threads. In one
embodiment of the present invention, regardless of varying
diameters and tapered necks, the container system 10 may still be a
modular system, having mating threads between the open ended
containers 12 and the connection parts 16, 18 and the end caps
14.
[0025] While threads are shown as the connecting means between
various components, various connecting means are contemplated
within the scope of the present invention. For example, a peg may
be provided in lieu of the female threads and a slot may be
provided in lieu of the mail threads to assemble the components. In
alternate embodiments, the components may be assembled by a
friction fit. In other possible embodiments the male and female
threads may be reversed, e.g., the ends of the open ended
containers may have female threads and the end caps and/or
connecting parts may have male threads.
[0026] As can be appreciated from the exploded perspective view of
FIG. 3, the container system 10 may be a modular system, permitting
interchange of components. For example, multiple open ended
containers 12 may be joined together either with floorless
connecting parts 16, to form a single long container system 10, or
with divided connecting parts 18, to form multiple individual
chambers within the container system 10. Alternatively, a single
open ended container 12 may be fitted with end caps 14 to provide a
single chambered container system 10. The container system 10 may
provide the user with flexibility in organizing and storing items.
Flexibility may include options for container size and the
combination of different sized containers when the open ended
containers 12 are connected together.
[0027] The container system 10 may be assembled as part of a kit.
The kit may contain various supplies stored within each of the open
ended containers 12. The supplies within a container system 10 may
be drawn to a common purpose. For example, the kit may be a first
aid kit containing first aid supplies, a survival kit containing
wilderness survival supplied, a shelter kit containing emergency
shelter supplied, a cooking kit containing cooking supplies or the
like. Multiple kits may be joined together. For example, end caps
14 from a first aid kit and a survival kit may be removed and a
divided connecting part 18 may join these two kits together to form
a single container system 10 containing multiple kits.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, there are shown perspective and
cross-sectional views of a container system 40 according to an
alternate embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment,
the container system 40 may include a perforated end cap 22. The
perforated end cap 22 may be useful in indications where a water
resistant end cap is not required. For example, the perforated end
cap may be useful as a cooking strainer or to allow air to pass
about damp items stored within the storage section 12-2. The other
components of the container system 40, such as the open ended
containers 12, the floorless connecting part 16, the divided
connecting part 18 and the end cap 14 may be the same as those
described with reference to FIGS. 1-3.
[0029] Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown a cross-sectional
view of a container system 60 according to an alternate embodiment
of the present invention. In this embodiment, additional water
resistance may be provided by a mechanical seal formed between
adjacent components of the container system 60. For example, an
external flange 62 on open ended containers 12' may provide
mechanical sealing when the connecting parts (such as divided
connecting part 18') are mated with the open ended containers 12'.
The external flange 62 may also provide contour to the outer
surface of the container system 60. In addition, an internal flange
64 may be present on the connecting parts 16, 18 or the end caps 14
to provide an alternate mechanical seal. For example, in FIG. 6,
the internal flange 64 is present on divided connecting part
18'.
[0030] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing
relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *