U.S. patent application number 13/309851 was filed with the patent office on 2013-06-06 for nestable collapsible containers.
The applicant listed for this patent is Susan R. Kavanaugh, Edward S. Robbins, III, Ronald R. White. Invention is credited to Susan R. Kavanaugh, Edward S. Robbins, III, Ronald R. White.
Application Number | 20130140211 13/309851 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48523238 |
Filed Date | 2013-06-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130140211 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Robbins, III; Edward S. ; et
al. |
June 6, 2013 |
NESTABLE COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS
Abstract
A set of one-piece containers constructed so that each of the
containers has a peripheral side wall which is arranged to permit
movement of each container from an extended position to a collapsed
position by reason of a telescoping relationship between the
various sections of the peripheral side wall. The set of containers
is constructed so that the outermost and innermost dimensions of
the peripheral side walls are such that, in the collapsed position,
the containers are nestable one within another to provide for
low-volume storage of the entire set of containers between
uses.
Inventors: |
Robbins, III; Edward S.;
(Muscle Shoals, AL) ; White; Ronald R.; (Florence,
AL) ; Kavanaugh; Susan R.; (Florence, AL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Robbins, III; Edward S.
White; Ronald R.
Kavanaugh; Susan R. |
Muscle Shoals
Florence
Florence |
AL
AL
AL |
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48523238 |
Appl. No.: |
13/309851 |
Filed: |
December 2, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/517 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 11/20 20130101;
B65D 21/086 20130101; A45F 3/20 20130101; B65D 21/0233
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/517 |
International
Class: |
B65D 21/02 20060101
B65D021/02; B65D 8/14 20060101 B65D008/14 |
Claims
1. A set of one-piece containers, each container comprising a
bottom wall and a peripheral side wall extending upward from the
bottom wall, the side wall including an annular rim defining an
opening into the container, the annular rim being adapted for
engagement with a lid to close the container, the peripheral side
wall being arranged to include three portions adapted to permit
movement of each container of the set from an extended position to
a collapsed position by reason of a folding, telescoping movement
between the various sections of the peripheral side wall, the side
wall having in the collapsed position an outermost side wall
dimension and an innermost side wall dimension, the outermost and
innermost dimensions of the peripheral side walls being dimensioned
such that, in the collapsed position, the containers of the set are
nestable one within another to provide for low-volume storage of
the entire set of containers between uses.
2. The set of one-piece containers of claim 1, wherein the three
portions of the peripheral side wall consist essentially of an
uppermost portion, a lowermost portion, an intermediate portion
joining the uppermost and lowermost portions, with a smooth heel
joining the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall to the
bottom wall.
3. The set of one-piece containers of claim 2, wherein the smooth
heel joining the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall to
the bottom wall of at least one of the set of containers further
comprises additional inwardly curved gripping area to facilitate
the extension of the at least one of the containers from the
collapsed position to the extended position.
4. The set of one-piece containers of claim 2, wherein the
lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of
one-piece containers has an upwardly facing and radially outwardly
curved surface that extends downwardly to the smooth heel.
5. The set of one-piece containers of claim 2, wherein the
uppermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of
one-piece containers includes an upwardly facing and radially
outwardly curved portion, a downwardly facing and radially inwardly
curved portion, and a junction of the upwardly facing and radially
outwardly curved portion and the downwardly facing and radially
inwardly curved portion of each of the set of one-piece containers
form a smoothly rounded ridge defining the outermost dimension of
the peripheral side wall.
6. The set of one-piece containers of claim 2, further comprising a
first circumferential transitional step joining an upper margin of
the intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall to a lower
margin of the uppermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each
of the set of one-piece containers, a second circumferential
transitional step joining a lower margin of the intermediate
portion of the peripheral side wall to an upper margin of the
lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of
one-piece containers, the first circumferential transitional step
of each of the set of one-piece containers having a diameter that
is greater than the second circumferential transitional step of the
same container so that, when in the extended position, the
intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set
of one-piece containers forms a downwardly facing and radially
inwardly curved surface.
7. The set of one-piece containers of claim 6, where in the
collapsed position, the intermediate portion of the peripheral side
wall of each of the set of one-piece containers is inverted and
situated radially between uppermost and the lowermost portions of
the peripheral side wall of the same container, the first
circumferential transitional step of each of the set of one-piece
containers is positioned at about an upper margin of the heel
portion of the same container, while the intermediate portion
curves upwardly and inwardly to the second circumferential
transitional step at the upper margin of the lowermost portion of
the peripheral side wall, and an inner surface of the lowermost
portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece
containers defines a minimum internal diameter for each container,
the diameter of the ridge defining the outermost dimension of the
peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers
being sized to be no greater than the minimum internal diameter of
the next larger container in the set of one-piece collapsible
containers.
8. A set of one-piece containers, each container comprising a
bottom wall and a peripheral side wall extending upward from the
bottom wall, the side wall including an annular rim defining an
opening into the container, the annular rim being adapted for
engagement with a lid to close the container, the peripheral side
wall being arranged to include three portions adapted to permit
movement of each container of the set from an extended position to
a collapsed position by reason of a folding, telescoping movement
between the various sections of the peripheral side wall, an
uppermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of
one-piece containers includes an upwardly facing and radially
outwardly curved portion facilitating collapse of each container, a
downwardly facing and radially inwardly curved portion facilitation
extension of each container, and a junction of the upwardly facing
and radially outwardly curved portion and the downwardly facing and
radially inwardly curved portion of each of the set of one-piece
containers forming a smoothly rounded ridge defining the outermost
dimension of the peripheral side wall, the side wall having in the
collapsed position an innermost side wall dimension, the outermost
and innermost dimensions of the peripheral side walls being
dimensioned such that, in the collapsed position, the containers of
the set are nestable one within another to provide for low-volume
storage of the entire set of containers between uses.
9. The set of one-piece containers of claim 8, wherein a lowermost
portion of the peripheral side wall includes an upwardly facing and
radially outwardly curved surface that extends downwardly to a
smooth heel joining the lowermost portion of the peripheral side
wall to the bottom wall, and an inwardly curved gripping area to
facilitate the extension of the at least one of the containers from
the collapsed position to the extended position.
10. The set of one-piece containers of claim 9, wherein the
peripheral side wall of each of the set of containers includes an
intermediate portion situated between the uppermost portion and the
lowermost portion, and in the extended position a first
circumferential transitional step joining an upper margin of the
intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall to a lower margin
of the uppermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the
set of one-piece containers, a second circumferential transitional
step joining a lower margin of the intermediate portion of the
peripheral side wall to an upper margin of the lowermost portion of
the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece
containers, the first circumferential transitional step of each of
the set of one-piece containers having a diameter that is greater
than the second circumferential transitional step of the same
container.
11. The set of one-piece containers of claim 10, where in the
collapsed position, the intermediate portion of the peripheral side
wall of each of the set of one-piece containers is inverted and
situated radially between uppermost and the lowermost portions of
the peripheral side wall of the same container, the first
circumferential transitional step of each of the set of one-piece
containers is positioned at about an upper margin of the heel
portion of the same container, while the intermediate portion
curves upwardly and inwardly to the second circumferential
transitional step at the upper margin of the lowermost portion of
the peripheral side wall, and an inner surface of the lowermost
portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece
containers defines a minimum internal diameter for each container,
the diameter of the ridge defining the outermost dimension of the
peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers
being sized to be no greater than the minimum internal diameter of
the next larger container in the set of one-piece collapsible
containers.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] This invention relates to sets of reusable and
re-collapsible one-piece containers and caps of the same general
appearance, which are nestable one within another to provide for
low-volume storage of the entire set of containers between
uses.
[0002] Collapsible containers are, of course, well known. For
example, in applicant's own prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,384,138;
5,392,941; 5,417,377; 5,533,638; and 5,575,398 show collapsible,
thin wall, plastic containers having a closed end, an annular
peripheral side wall and an open end, the peripheral side wall
including a plurality of annular steps or shoulders for enabling
controlled axial collapse of the container to a compact, collapsed
condition wherein at least one fold of the side wall surround a
remaining un-collapsed portion of the container, and a removable
cap is securable to the open end. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,138, the
cap is disclosed to include a further container or chamber of an
entirely different structure for holding, for example, a
foodstuff.
[0003] Nesting sets of similar containers are also well known. For
example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,951,832; 5,769,229; and 6,796,430 as well
as U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0070907 show a set of
graduated containers, with each container having a lid that may be
placed on top to seal its respective container. The lids may be
attached to the bottom in order that a smaller container with lid
attached may be nested in the next larger container for convenient
storage without loss or misplacing the lid. However, none of the
containers are shown to be collapsible, and thus the nested set of
containers shown in these patents necessarily occupies the space of
the largest container.
[0004] What is needed is a set of reusable and re-collapsible,
one-piece containers having the same general appearance which are
nestable one within another to provide for low-volume storage of
the entire set of containers between uses.
SUMMARY
[0005] A set of one-piece containers can be constructed so that
each of the containers has a peripheral side wall which is arranged
to permit movement of each container from an extended position to a
collapsed position by reason of a telescoping relationship between
the various sections of the peripheral side wall. The set of
containers can be constructed so that the outermost and innermost
dimensions of the peripheral side walls are such that, in the
collapsed position, the containers are nestable one within another
to provide for low-volume storage of the entire set of containers
between uses. The containers can be molded from a variety of
plastics to have the structural features and flexibility necessary
to move between the collapsed and the extended positions.
[0006] In a preferred embodiment the peripheral side wall of each
of the set of one-piece containers can include a lowermost portion,
an uppermost portion and an intermediate portion. The uppermost
portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece
containers can include an upwardly facing and radially outwardly
curved portion that provides a good gripping surface to facilitate
collapse of each container. The uppermost portion of the peripheral
side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers can also
include a downwardly facing and radially inwardly curved portion
that provides a good gripping surface to facilitate extension of
each container. A junction of the upwardly facing and radially
outwardly curved portion and the downwardly facing and radially
inwardly curved portion of each of the set of one-piece containers
can form a ridge, which is preferably smoothly rounded, defining
the outermost dimension of the peripheral side wall. The
configuration of the uppermost portion of the peripheral side wall
of each of the set of one-piece containers remains substantially
unchanged between the extended and collapsed position of each of
the containers.
[0007] The lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of
the set of one-piece containers can have an upwardly facing and
radially outwardly curved surface that extends downwardly
substantially to a smooth heel joining the lowermost portion of the
peripheral side wall to the bottom wall. The upwardly facing and
radially outwardly curved surface of the lowermost portion of each
of the set of one-piece containers provides a good gripping surface
to facilitate extension of each container. An additional inwardly
curved gripping area can be included in the heel portion joining
the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall to the bottom
wall to facilitate the extension of one or more of the container
from the collapsed position to the extended position. The
configuration of the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall
of each of the set of one-piece containers remains substantially
unchanged between the extended and collapsed position of each of
the containers.
[0008] The intermediate portion of the peripheral side wall of each
of the set of one-piece containers joins the uppermost portion to
the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the
set of one-piece containers. A first circumferential transitional
step joins an upper margin of the intermediate portion of the
peripheral side wall to a lower margin of the uppermost portion of
the peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece
containers. Similarly, a second circumferential transitional step
joins a lower margin of the intermediate portion of the peripheral
side wall to an upper margin of the lowermost portion of the
peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers.
The first circumferential transitional step of each of the set of
one-piece containers has a diameter that is greater than the second
circumferential transitional step of the same container so that,
when in the extended position, the intermediate portion of the
peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers can
form a downwardly facing and radially inwardly curved surface.
[0009] In the collapsed position, the intermediate portion of the
peripheral side wall of each of the set of one-piece containers is
inverted and situated radially between uppermost and the lowermost
portions of the peripheral side wall of the same container. In the
collapsed position, the first circumferential transitional step of
each of the set of one-piece containers can be positioned at about
an upper margin of the heel portion of the same container, while
the intermediate portion curves upwardly and inwardly to the second
circumferential transitional step at the upper margin of the
lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall. An inner surface of
the lowermost portion of the peripheral side wall of each of the
set of one-piece containers defines a minimum internal diameter for
each container. The diameter of the ridge defining the outermost
dimension of the peripheral side wall of each of the set of
one-piece containers can be sized to be no greater than the minimum
internal diameter of the next larger container in the set of
one-piece collapsible containers so that the containers are
nestable one within another to provide for low-volume storage of
the entire set of containers between uses.
[0010] Other features of the present set of one-piece containers
and the corresponding advantages of those features will be come
apparent from the following discussion of a preferred embodiment,
which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The components
in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being
placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover,
in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding
parts throughout the different views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1A is a side elevation view of a first container of the
set in an extended position.
[0012] FIG. 1B is a side elevation view of a second container of
the set in an extended position.
[0013] FIG. 1C is a side elevation view of a third container of the
set in an extended position.
[0014] FIG. 2A is a side elevation view of the first container of
the set in a collapsed position.
[0015] FIG. 2B is a side elevation view of the second container of
the set in a collapsed position.
[0016] FIG. 2C is a side elevation view of the third container of
the set in a collapsed position.
[0017] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the set of containers in the
collapsed position with accompanying lids and ready for nesting one
with another.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the nested set of
containers with the containers being in the collapsed position.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of one of the containers.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] A set of one-piece containers 10 is shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B,
and 1C. The set can be constructed so that the peripheral side wall
12 of each of the set of one-piece containers can include a
lowermost portion 14, an uppermost portion 16 and an intermediate
portion 18. The uppermost portion 16 of the peripheral side wall 12
of each of the set of one-piece containers can include an upwardly
facing and radially outwardly curved portion 20 that provides a
good gripping surface to facilitate collapse of each container 10.
The uppermost portion 16 of the peripheral side wall of each of the
set of one-piece containers can also include a downwardly facing
and radially inwardly curved portion 22 that provides a good
gripping surface to facilitate extension of each container 10. A
junction of the upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved
portion 20 and the downwardly facing and radially inwardly curved
portion 22 of each of the set of one-piece containers 10 can form a
ridge 24, which is preferably smoothly rounded, defining the
outermost dimension of the peripheral side wall 12. The
configuration of the uppermost portion 16 of the peripheral side
wall 12 of each of the set of one-piece containers 10 remains
substantially unchanged between the extended, shown in FIGS. 1A-1C,
and a collapsed position of each of the containers shown in FIGS.
2A-2C.
[0021] The set of one-piece containers 10 can also be constructed
so that a lowermost portion 14 of the peripheral side wall 12 of
each of the set of one-piece containers 10 can have an upwardly
facing and radially outwardly curved surface 28 that extends
downwardly substantially to a smooth heel 30 joining the lowermost
portion 14 of the peripheral side wall to a bottom wall 32. The
upwardly facing and radially outwardly curved surface 28 of the
lowermost portion 14 of each of the set of one-piece containers
provides a good gripping surface to facilitate extension of each
container 10 from the configuration shown in FIGS. 2A-2C to the
configuration shown in FIGS. 1A-1C. An additional inwardly curved
gripping area 34 can be included in the heel portion 30 joining the
lowermost portion 14 of the peripheral side wall to the bottom wall
32 to facilitate the extension of one or more of the container set
from the collapsed position to the extended position. The
configuration of the lowermost portion 14 of the peripheral side
wall 12 of each of the set of one-piece containers remains
substantially unchanged between the extended and collapsed position
of each of the containers 10.
[0022] The set of one-piece containers 10 can also be constructed
so that the intermediate portion 18 of the peripheral side wall 12
of each of the set of one-piece containers 10 joins the uppermost
portion 16 to the lowermost portion 16 of the peripheral side wall
12 of each of the set of one-piece containers 10. A first
circumferential transitional step 38 joins an upper margin of the
intermediate portion 18 of the peripheral side wall to a lower
margin of the uppermost portion 16 of the peripheral side wall 12
of each of the set of one-piece containers 10. Similarly, a second
circumferential transitional step 40 joins a lower margin of the
intermediate portion 18 of the peripheral side wall to an upper
margin of the lowermost portion 14 of the peripheral side wall 12
of each of the set of one-piece containers 10. The first
circumferential transitional step 38 of each of the set of
one-piece containers 10 has a diameter that is greater than the
second circumferential transitional step 40 of the same container
so that, when in the extended position, the intermediate portion 18
of the peripheral side wall 12 of each of the set of one-piece
containers 10 can form a downwardly facing and radially inwardly
curved surface 42.
[0023] In the collapsed position shown in FIGS. 2A-2C and in FIG.
4, the intermediate portion 18 of the peripheral side wall of each
of the set of one-piece containers is inverted and situated
radially between uppermost 16 and the lowermost portions 14 of the
peripheral side wall of the same container 10.
[0024] In the collapsed position, the first circumferential
transitional step 38 of each of the set of one-piece containers 10
can be positioned at about an upper margin of the heel portion 30
of the same container, while the intermediate portion 18 curves
upwardly and inwardly to the second circumferential transitional
step 40 at the upper margin of the lowermost portion 14 of the
peripheral side wall. As shown in FIG. 4, an inner surface 44 of
the lowermost portion 14 of the peripheral side wall of each of the
set of one-piece containers 10 defines a minimum internal diameter
for each container 10. The diameter of the ridge 24 defining the
outermost dimension of the peripheral side wall 12 of each of the
set of one-piece containers 10 can be sized to be no greater than
the minimum internal diameter of the next larger container in the
set of one-piece collapsible containers so that the containers are
nestable one within another, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, to provide
for low-volume storage of the entire set of containers 10 between
uses.
[0025] Each container 10 of the set preferably includes an annular
rim 46 defining an opening into the container 10, the annular rim
being adapted for engagement with a lid 48 to close the container
10. The engaging feature can take the form of a screw thread, a
bayonet connection, or other similar feature that will permit the
lid 48 to be removed and re-applied to the container 10. A maximum
volume of the containers 10 of the set shown in the drawings can
be, for example, 2-cups, 3.5-cups, and 6-cups, but other maximum
volumes are also possible. A maximum diameter for the ridge 24 of
such a set of containers 10 can be, for example, 3.84 in., 4.63
in., and 5.44 in., respectively, but other maximum diameters are
also possible. When in the extended position, the vertical
dimension of such a set of containers 10, measured from the bottom
wall 32 to the annular rim 46, can be, for example, 4.20 in., 4.94
in., and 5.65 in., respectively, but other vertical dimensions are
also possible. While the set of containers 10 is illustrated to be
a set of three containers, the set can consist of at least two
containers, and may consist of up to six or more containers.
[0026] While these features have been disclosed in connection with
the illustrated preferred embodiment, other embodiments of the
invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art that come
within the spirit of the invention as defined in the following
claims.
* * * * *