U.S. patent application number 14/476915 was filed with the patent office on 2015-03-12 for container.
The applicant listed for this patent is Tsann Kuen Zhangzhou. Invention is credited to Zhong-Hua Zhang.
Application Number | 20150068944 14/476915 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52624463 |
Filed Date | 2015-03-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150068944 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zhang; Zhong-Hua |
March 12, 2015 |
Container
Abstract
A stackable container includes a surrounding wall that has a
plurality of recessed parts and a top open end formed with a
flange. The recessed parts are indented respectively from inner
surfaces of corners of the surrounding wall and protrude outwardly
and respectively from outer surfaces of the corners. The recessed
parts have respective outer shoulder surface to abut against the
annular flange of another similar container to prevent tight
contact between the container and the another similar
container.
Inventors: |
Zhang; Zhong-Hua; (Fujian,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Tsann Kuen Zhangzhou |
Fujian |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
52624463 |
Appl. No.: |
14/476915 |
Filed: |
September 4, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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14336380 |
Jul 21, 2014 |
|
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14476915 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/505 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 21/0233
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/505 |
International
Class: |
B65D 21/02 20060101
B65D021/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 6, 2013 |
CN |
201310403949.1 |
Apr 1, 2014 |
CN |
201410128274.9 |
Claims
1. A container stackable on another similar container, the
container comprising: a base wall; a surrounding wall extending
upwardly from said base wall, said base wall and said surrounding
wall cooperatively defining a receiving space; an annular flange
extending around and projecting outwardly from a top open end of
said surrounding wall distal from said base wall; and a plurality
of recessed parts indented from an inner surface of said
surrounding wall in proximity to said annular flange, and
protruding outwardly from an outer surface of said surrounding
wall, wherein, when the container is stacked on another similar
container, said recessed parts of the container are able to abut
against said annular flange of another similar container to prevent
tight contact between the container and the another similar
container.
2. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said annular flange
has an inclined surface portion directly connected to said
surrounding wall and inclined downward and toward said receiving
space.
3. The container as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said
recessed parts has a rounded outer shoulder surface protruding from
said outer surface of said surrounding wall.
4. The container as claimed in claim 3, wherein said annular flange
further has a non-inclined portion extending outwardly from said
inclined surface portion in a direction substantially parallel to
said base wall, each of said recessed parts further having an
upstanding wall portion that extends downwardly from said annular
flange and that is perpendicular to said base wall, and a
transverse wall portion that extends inwardly from a bottom end of
said upstanding wall toward said receiving space and that is
parallel to said base wall, said rounded outer shoulder surface
being formed at an outer surface of said transverse wall
portion.
5. The container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of reinforcement ribs extending upwardly from said base
wall to said top open end of said surrounding wall.
6. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said surrounding
wall is inclined outwardly from said base wall to said annular
flange.
7. A stack of containers, comprising: a plurality of container
bodies stacked one above the other, each of said container bodies
including: a base wall; a surrounding wall that extends upwardly
and is inclined outwardly from said base wall and that has a
plurality of corners, said base wall and said surrounding wall
cooperatively defining a receiving space; an annular flange
extending around and projecting outwardly from a top open end of
said surrounding wall distal from said base wall; and a plurality
of recessed parts indented respectively from inner surfaces of said
corners in proximity to said annular flange and protruding
outwardly and respectively from outer surfaces of said corners;
wherein said recessed parts of each of said container bodies are
seated on said annular flange of a lower one of said container
bodies to prevent each of said container bodies from contacting
tightly the lower one of said container bodies.
8. The stack of containers as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of
said recessed parts has an upstanding wall portion that extends
downwardly from said annular flange and that is perpendicular to
said base wall, and a transverse wall portion that extends inwardly
from a bottom end of said upstanding wall toward said receiving
space, said transverse wall portion being formed with a rounded
outer shoulder surface protruding from said outer surface of said
surrounding wall, said rounded outer shoulder surface of each of
said container bodies being seated on said annular flange of the
lower one of said container bodies.
9. The stack of containers as claimed in claim 8, wherein said
annular flange of each of said container bodies has an inclined
surface portion directly connected to said surrounding wall and
inclined downward and toward said receiving space to abut against
said rounded outer shoulder surface of each of said recessed parts
of an upper one of said container bodies.
10. The stack of containers as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of
said container bodies includes a plurality of reinforcement ribs
extending upwardly from said base wall to said top open end of said
surrounding wall.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/336,380 (hereinafter referred to as the
'380 application) and claims priority of Chinese Application No.
201310403949.1, filed on Sep. 6, 2013. The '380 application,
entitled "Automatic Bread Maker Assembly" was filed on Jul 21, 2014
and claims priority of Chinese Application No. 201410128274.9,
filed on Apr. 1, 2014.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a container, and more particularly
to a container stackable on another container for preventing tight
contact therebetween.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] On the market, there are different shapes of containers,
such as a pudding cup or a tofu box. A conventional container
generally has a base wall and a surrounding wall that extends
upwardly from the base wall and that is inclined outwardly from the
base wall to a top end of the surrounding wall. The base wall and
the surrounding wall cooperatively define a receiving space for
receiving items. After manufacture, the conventional containers are
stacked together in order to be conveniently stored or transported.
For saving storing space, the base wall and the surrounding wall of
each of the containers are inserted into the receiving space of
another one of the containers. However, such stacking may cause
excessively close contact between adjacent containers. Under the
environmental atmospheric pressure, the stacked containers may be
hard to separate from one another, thereby resulting in
inconvenience during use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
a container that may alleviate the aforesaid drawback of the prior
art.
[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a
container includes a base wall, a surrounding wall, an annular
flange and a plurality of recessed parts. The surrounding wall
extends upwardly from the base wall. The base wall and the
surrounding wall cooperatively define a receiving space.
[0006] The annular flange extends around and projects outwardly
from a top open end of the surrounding wall distal from the base
wall.
[0007] The recessed parts are indented from an inner surface of the
surrounding wall in proximity to the annular flange, and protrude
outwardly from an outer surface of the surrounding wall.
[0008] When the container is stacked on another similar container,
the recessed parts of the container are able to abut against the
annular flange of another similar container to prevent tight
contact between the container and the another similar
container.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
stack of containers including a plurality of container bodies
stacked one above the other.
[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, each
of the container bodies includes a base wall, a surrounding wall,
an annular flange and a plurality of recessed parts.
[0011] The surrounding wall extends upwardly and is inclined
outwardly from the base wall, and has a plurality of corners. The
base wall and the surrounding wall cooperatively define a receiving
space.
[0012] The annular flange extends around and projects outwardly
from a top open end of the surrounding wall distal from the base
wall.
[0013] The recessed parts are indented respectively from inner
surfaces of the corners in proximity to the annular flange and
protrude outwardly and respectively from outer surfaces of the
corners.
[0014] The recessed parts of each of the container bodies are
seated on the annular flange of a lower one of the container bodies
to prevent each of the container bodies from contacting tightly the
lower one of the container bodies.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of
which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a container
according to the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary partly-sectional view illustrating a
stack of the containers according to the present invention; and
[0018] FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the containers stacked
one above the other.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a container 4
according to the present invention is illustrated. The container 4
is stackable on another similar container 4. Referring to FIGS. 2
and 3, a stack of the containers 4 are shown and includes a
plurality of container bodies 40 stacked one on the other. Each of
the container bodies 40 includes a base wall 45, a surrounding wall
47, an annular flange 46, a plurality of recessed parts 49 and a
plurality of reinforcement ribs 48 (see FIG. 1).
[0020] The surrounding wall 47 extends upwardly and is inclined
outwardly from the base wall 45. The surrounding wall 47 has a
plurality of corners 470. The base wall 45 and the surrounding wall
47 cooperatively define a receiving space 41 for receiving items
(not shown).
[0021] The annular flange 46 extends around and projects outwardly
from a top open end of the surrounding wall 47 distal from the base
wall 45. Specifically, the annular flange 46 has an inclined
surface portion 461 and a non-inclined portion 462 extending
outwardly from the inclined surface portion 461 in a direction
substantially parallel to the base wall 45. As best shown in FIGS.
2 and 3, the annular flange 46 of each of the container bodies 40
has the inclined surface portion 461 directly connected to the
surrounding wall 47 and inclined downward and toward the receiving
space 41.
[0022] In order to remove the items (not shown) from the receiving
space 41, the container 4 is turned upside down (not shown) so that
the annular flange 46 and the top open end of the surrounding wall
47 are disposed below the base wall 45. Since the surrounding wall
47 is inclined relative to the base wall 45, the container 4 is
advantageous to ensure that the items are completely removed from
the receiving space 41.
[0023] Referring back to FIG. 1, the reinforcement ribs 48 of the
container body 40 extend upwardly from the base wall 45 to the top
open end of the surrounding wall 47 to enhance the structural
strength of the container body 40. As such, the base wall 45 and
the surrounding wall 47 may not be easily deformed.
[0024] The recessed parts 49 of each container body 40 are indented
from an inner surface of the surrounding wall 47 in proximity to
the annular flange 46 and protrude outwardly from an outer surface
of the surrounding wall 47. Specifically, the recessed parts 49 are
indented respectively from inner surfaces of the corners 470 in
proximity to the annular flange 46 and protrude outwardly and
respectively from outer surfaces of the corners 470. Each of the
recessed parts 49 has an upstanding wall portion 491 that extends
downwardly from the inclined surface portion 461 of the annular
flange 46 and that is perpendicular to the base wall 45, and a
transverse wall portion 492 that extends inwardly from a bottom end
of the upstanding wall 491 toward the receiving space 41. The
upstanding wall portion 491 is tapered upwardly. An outer surface
of the transverse wall portion 492 is formed with a rounded outer
shoulder surface 493 protruding from the outer surface of the
surrounding wall 47 to abut against the inclined surface portion
461 of the annular flange 46 of the lower container body 40.
[0025] Referring back to FIGS. 2 and 3, when the containers 4 of
this disclosure are disposed in a stack, the rounded outer shoulder
surface 493 of each of the recesses parts 49 of an upper one of the
container bodies 40 is seated on the inclined surface portion 461
of the annular flange 46 of a lower one of the container bodies 40.
As such, the containers 4 will not tightly contact each other under
the environmental atmospheric pressure, thereby avoiding difficult
separation of the containers 4. Notwithstanding, the rounded outer
shoulder surface 493 of each of the recessed parts 49 of the upper
container body 40 need not be necessarily seated on the inclined
surface portion 461 of the annular flange 46 of the lower container
body 40. In actual implementation, the inner surface of upstanding
wall portion 491 of each of the recessed parts 49 may be inclined
downwardly and outwardly from the annular flange 46 to the base
wall 45, and the rounded outer shoulder surface 493 of the
corresponding recesses part 49 can be seated on the non-inclined
portion 462 of the annular flange 46 of the lower container body 40
to avoid tight contact therebetween.
[0026] To sum up, since the recessed parts 49 of each of the
container bodies 40 are seated on the annular flange 46 of the
lower container body 40, each of the container bodies 40 is
prevented from contacting tightly the other container bodies 40
when they are stacked together.
[0027] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical embodiment, it is
understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed
embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included
within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to
encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *