COLLAPSIBLE STORAGE ASSEMBLIES

Abstract

A storage assembly includes an outer container and an inner container. The outer container includes a main body and a lid for covering a cavity defined in the main body. The main body has flaps configured to extend into the cavity, and a recessed bottom wall defining a pocket. The lid covers the cavity of the main body and defines an opening therein. The inner container includes a main body and a lid detachably coupled to the main body of the inner container to selectively cover the cavity of the inner container. The inner container is configured for receipt in the cavity of the outer container. The flaps of the outer container are configured to engage the inner container to position the lid of the inner container above the opening of the lid of the outer container.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to containers, and more particularly, to containers that are collapsible when not in use.

BACKGROUND

Containers may be used to store a variety of materials or substances for a variety of purposes. For example, containers may be food grade storage containers for storing foods, including, but not limited to, beverages (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), dried foods (e.g., flour, protein powder, or grains), and/or refrigerated or frozen items. Typically, containers may occupy otherwise usable space even when not being used to store items. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to have containers (e.g., food grade containers) that can be reduced in size when not in use.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a storage assembly is provided. The storage assembly includes an outer container and an inner container. The outer container includes a main body defining a cavity therein, two flaps movably coupled to the main body, and a lid for partially covering the cavity of the main body. The main body has a recessed bottom wall that defines a pocket, and the lid defines an opening. The inner container includes a main body and a lid detachably coupled to the main body of the inner container to selectively cover the cavity of the main body of the inner container. The inner container is configured for receipt in the cavity of the main body of the outer container. The main body of the inner container defines a cavity therein. The flaps of the outer container are configured to engage the inner container to position the lid of the inner container above the opening of the lid of the outer container.

In embodiments, each of the flaps of the outer container may define an arcuate cutout.

It is contemplated that the main body of the inner container may include a neck configured for detachable coupling with the lid of the inner container. The arcuate cutout of each of the flaps may be dimensioned for receipt of the neck of the inner container.

It is envisioned that pocket of the outer container may be dimensioned for receipt of a lid of another outer container of another storage assembly for vertical stacking of the storage assembly and the another storage assembly.

In embodiments, the pocket may be further defined by a plurality of inner side walls of the main body of the outer container.

It is contemplated that the main body of the inner container may include a top wall that is more rigid relative to the remainder of the main body of the inner container. The remainder of the main body of the inner container may be collapsible.

It is envisioned that the main body of the inner container may be fabricated from an opaque, polypropylene material.

In embodiments, the main body of the outer container may include a plurality of flaps and a plurality of tabs pivotably coupling the flaps to a bottom end of the main body of the outer container. The flaps may be configured to detachably interlock with one another to define the recessed bottom wall of the main body of the outer container. The tabs may be configured to be folded into the cavity of the main body of the outer container, such that the tabs and the recessed bottom wall together form the pocket.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a storage assembly is provided that includes an outer container and an inner container. The outer container includes a main body defining a cavity therein, and a lid for partially covering the cavity of the main body. The lid defines an opening therein. The inner container includes a main body and a lid detachably coupled to the main body of the inner container to selectively cover the cavity of the main body of the inner container. The main body of the inner container is configured for receipt in the cavity of the main body of the outer container. The main body of the inner container has a top wall that is more rigid relative to the remainder of the main body. The main body of the inner container defines a collapsible cavity therein.

In embodiments, the remainder of the main body of the inner container may be collapsible.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of storing a plurality of storage assemblies is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of outer containers and a plurality of inner containers. The main body of the inner containers has a top wall that is more rigid relative to the remainder of the main body. The main body of each of the outer containers is collapsed and the outer containers are stacked. The remainder of the main body of each of the inner containers is also collapsed and the inner containers are stacked.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will become more readily apparent from the specific description accompanied by the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an assembly and use of one embodiment of a plurality of storage assemblies in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a storage assembly of FIG. 1 including an inner container disposed within an outer container;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the inner container of the storage assembly of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a top wall of the inner container of FIG. 2B having a threaded ring extending upwardly therefrom;

FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of the storage assembly of FIG. 2A in an assembled, closed state;

FIG. 4B is a top, front view of the storage assembly of FIG. 4A shown in an open condition, with the lid of the outer container detached from the main body of the outer container;

FIG. 5 is a top, side view of the storage assembly of FIG. 2A;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a vertical stacking of a first storage assembly on a second storage assembly;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the outer container of the storage assembly of FIG. 2A in a flattened state;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the outer container of the storage assembly of FIG. 2A in a semi-folded or collapsed state;

FIG. 9 is a top, perspective view of the storage assembly of FIG. 2A illustrating a lid of the outer container in an opened state; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the storage assembly of FIG. 9 illustrating the inner container with the lid removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the disclosure taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed disclosure. Also, as used in the specification and including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It is also understood that all spatial references, such as, for example, horizontal, vertical, top, upper, lower, bottom, left and right, are for illustrative purposes only and can be varied within the scope of the disclosure. For example, the references “upper” and “lower” are relative and used only in the context to the other, and are not necessarily “superior” and “inferior”.

With reference to FIG. 1, a plurality of containers or storage assemblies 10, for storing bulk items or powders, for example, protein powders, is shown in various states of assembly and use, such as folded for storage or expanded for use. In some embodiments, the storage assembly 10 may be configured and dimensioned for storing various substances (e.g., liquid foods, solid foods, non-food items and/o bulk food/non-food products). The storage assembly 10 generally includes an outer box or outer container 12 and an inner container 14 disposable within the outer box 12. The outer box 12 is of a rigid construction to provide integrity to the storage assembly 10 and is transitionable between an expanded state, as shown in FIGS. 2A-6B, and a collapsed state, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

With reference to FIGS. 2A-10, the outer box 12 may be fabricated from cardboard or any other suitable material capable of maintaining its shape when devoid of any material contained in the inner container 14 of the storage assembly 10. The outer box 12 of storage assembly 10 is rectangular and capable of holding approximately 3 pounds of materials therein. In some embodiments, the outer box 12 may assume any suitable shape, such as, for example, square, circular, oblong, triangular, cylindrical, or the like, and may be capable of holding more or less than 3 pounds of materials. The outer box 12 is approximately 6 inches in width and approximately 9.5 inches in height. In other embodiments, the outer box 12 may have a width of between about 1 inch and about 12 inches and a height of between approximately 5 inches and about 20 inches. It is contemplated that the outer box 12 may have any suitable dimensions.

The outer box 12 has a bottom portion or main body 16 and a top, lid, or cover 18 pivotably attached to the main body 16. The main body 16 defines a cavity 17 (FIG. 9) therein dimensioned for receipt of the inner container 14 when the inner container 14 is in either an expanded or collapsed state. As best shown in FIGS. 6A, 7, and 8, the main body 16 has a plurality of side walls 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d coupled to one another. In particular, the side walls 20a-d are coupled to one another at seams or joints that allow the side walls 20a-d to bend relative to an adjacent side wall 20a, 20b, 20c, or 20d between an expanded state (FIGS. 2A-6B), in which the side walls 20a-d are bent at approximately 90 degrees relative to one another to form a rectangular shape, and a collapsed state (FIGS. 7 and 8), in which the side walls 20a-d are coplanar and/or parallel.

With continued reference to FIGS. 6A-8, the main body 16 further includes a first end or bottom end and a second end or top end spaced longitudinally from the bottom end. The first end, which forms the base of the main body 16, defines a depression or pocket 19 therein. The pocket 19 is defined by a recessed bottom wall 22 of the main body 16 and four inner side walls 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d of the main body 16. The pocket 19 of the main body 16 is dimensioned to receive a lid 34¹ of an inner box 14¹ of another storage assembly 10¹ such that two or more storage assemblies 10, 10¹ may be stacked on top of one another in a vertical orientation, as shown in FIG. 6B.

With reference to FIGS. 7-10, the second end or top end of main body 16 of the outer box 12 has a pair of foldable flaps 26a, 26b each extending from a respective, opposing side wall 20a, 20c of the main body 16. In some embodiments, more than two of the side walls 20a-d of the main body 16 may have a flap 26a, 26b. Each of the flaps 26a, 26b defines an arcuate cutout 28a, 28b in a free end thereof. When the flaps 26a, 26b are in a folded state (e.g., when the flaps 26a, 26b are perpendicular to their respective side walls 20a, 20c), the arcuate cutouts 28a, 28b of each of the flaps 26a, 26b collectively define an annular opening (not explicitly shown). The annular opening is dimensioned to allow for a top 34 of the inner container 14 to protrude therethrough. In addition, when the inner container 14 is disposed within the outer box 12, the flaps 26a, 26b are received under the lid 34 (or an annular ring or neck 36) of the inner container 14 such that the flaps 26a, 26b prevent or inhibit the lid 34 of inner container 14 from falling through (or collapsing into) the annular opening and into the cavity 17 of the main body 16 of the outer box 14. As such, the flaps 26a, 26b maintain the lid 34 of the inner container 14 above the lid 18 of the outer box 12 so that the lid 34 of the inner container 14 remains accessible by a user.

Each wall 20a-d of the main body 16 of the outer box 12 has a flap 29a-d disposed at a bottom end thereof for detachably interlocking with one another to selectively close the bottom end of the main body 16 of the outer box 12. The flaps 29a-d together define the recessed bottom wall 22 of the main body 16 (see FIG. 6A). Each of the flaps 29a-d is pivotably coupled to the bottom end of the respective wall 20a-d via a strip or tab 31a-d. The tabs 31a-d may have a substantially rectangular configuration and may be folded into the cavity 17 of the main body 16 of the outer box 12 to define the inner side walls 24a-d of the main body 16 (see FIG. 6A). Upon folding the tabs 31a-d inwardly into the cavity 17 of the main body 16 of the outer box 12, the recessed bottom wall 22 defined by the flaps 29a-d of the main body 16 and the inner side walls 24a-d defined by the tabs 31a-d of the main body 16 together form the pocket or recess 19 in the bottom end of the main body 16 of the outer box 12.

The lid 18 of the outer box 12 is pivotably connected to one side wall 20b of the main body 16 to selectively cover the cavity of the main body 16. In some embodiments, the lid 18 may be detachable from the main body 16. The lid 18 defines a central opening 30 therethrough dimensioned for receipt of a top or lid 34 of the inner container 14 and to prevent removal of the main body 32 of the inner container 14 from the cavity of the outer box 12. The central opening 30 of the lid 18 defines a central axis therethrough that is coaxial with a central longitudinal axis defined through the main body 16 of the outer box 12. As shown in FIG. 4B, the lid 18 has at least one tab 21 extending downwardly therefrom and dimensioned for releasable receipt in a notch 13 defined in a side wall of the main body 16 (e.g., side wall 20a) of the outer box 12.

With reference to FIGS. 2A-5, 9, and 10, the inner container 14 of the storage assembly 10 has a flexible, collapsible main body 32 and a lid 34 removably attached to the main body 32. The main body 32 defines a cavity therein configured for receipt of food materials, such as, for example, protein powders, or any other suitable material whether liquid, solid, powder or gas, food and/or non-food. The main body 32 of the inner container 14 is fabricated from bonded layers of aluminum and plastic such that the main body 32 of the inner container 14 can be flattened when the cavity of the inner container 14 is devoid of stored materials. In some embodiments, the main body 32 of the inner container 14 may be fabricated from various food-grade plastic materials, such as, for example, polypropylene, polyester, polylactide, polyethylene terephthalate, and/or polystyrene, and may be opaque. The main body 32 of the inner container 14 is manufactured by molding or heat sealing a plurality of walls together. The main body 32 is designed such that upon filling the cavity of the main body 32 with liquid, particles, or powder, the main body 32 assumes a substantially rectangular shape or cube shape dimensioned for receipt in the cavity of the main body 16 of the outer box 12. In some embodiments, the main body 32 of the inner container 14 may assume a variety of shapes (e.g., triangular, square, circular, or the like) and may be of a monolithic construction rather than consisting of a plurality of walls sealed to one another. The lid 34 of the inner container 14 may assume a variety of sizes and shapes (e.g., triangular, circular, square, or the like).

The main body 32 may have a top wall 33 fabricated from a more rigid material than the remainder of the main body 32 so that the top wall 33 maintains a planar configuration when the inner box 14 is in either of the collapsed or expanded states. The main body 32 of the inner container 14 also includes a plastic annular ring 36 of a rigid construction that forms an opening of the main body 32. In embodiments, the plastic annular ring 36 may be formed with or coupled to the top wall 33 of the main body 32. The plastic annular ring 36 defines an outer threading configured for threading engagement with an inner threading of the top or lid 34 of the inner container 14. In some embodiments, the lid 34 of the inner container 14 and the annular ring 36 of the inner container 14 may be detachably coupled to one another via any suitable fastening engagement, such as, for example, snap-fit. The annular ring 36 also defines an annular lip or flange 37 configured for receipt of the flaps 26a, 26b of the main body 16 of the outer box 12. As noted above, when the inner container 14 is disposed within the outer box 12, the flaps 26a, 26b of the outer box 12 are received under the lip 37 of the annular ring 36 to prevent the lid 34 of the inner container 14 from falling, due to gravity, into the outer box 12. As such, the lid 34 of the inner container 14 remains protruding from the lid 18 of the outer box 12.

In use, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of storage assemblies 10 is provided. Initially, the main body 16 of the outer container 12 of each of the storage assemblies 10 is collapsed by folding each of the walls 20a-d thereof about their seams. With the outer containers 12 in a collapsed state, each of the outer containers 12 may be stacked, either horizontally or vertically. The main body 32 of the inner container 14 of each of the storage assemblies 10 is also collapsed. Since the top wall 33 of the main body 32 may be more rigid than the remainder of the main body 32, the top wall 33 may remain planar when the main body 32 is in its collapsed state. With the inner containers 14 in a collapsed state, each of the inner containers 14 may be stacked, either horizontally or vertically. In embodiments, a collapsed inner container 14 may be stacked with a collapsed outer container 12 by positioning the lid 34 of the inner container 14 through the opening 30 in the lid 18 of the outer container 12.

The components disclosed herein can be fabricated from metals, magnetic materials, synthetic polymers, and ceramics. The components disclosed herein, individually or collectively, may also be fabricated from materials such as plastic, nylon, stainless steel alloys, aluminum, commercially pure titanium, titanium alloys, Grade 5 titanium, super-elastic titanium alloys, cobalt-chrome alloys, stainless steel alloys, superelastic metallic alloys (e.g., Nitinol, super elasto-plastic metals, such as GUM METAL® manufactured by Toyota Material Incorporated of Japan), ceramics and composites thereof such as calcium phosphate (e.g., SKELITE™ manufactured by Biologix Inc.), thermoplastics such as polyaryletherketone (PAEK) including polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) and polyetherketone (PEK), carbon-PEEK composites, PEEK-BaSO4 polymeric rubbers, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), fabric, silicone, polyurethane, silicone-polyurethane copolymers, polymeric rubbers, polyolefin rubbers, hydrogels, semi-rigid and rigid materials, elastomers, rubbers, thermoplastic elastomers, thermoset elastomers, elastomeric composites, rigid polymers including polyphenylene, polyamide, polyimide, polyetherimide, polyethylene, epoxy. Various components disclosed herein may have material composites, including the above materials, to achieve various desired characteristics such as strength, rigidity, elasticity, compliance, and durability. The components disclosed herein, individually or collectively, may also be fabricated from a heterogeneous material such as a combination of two or more of the above-described materials. The components disclosed herein may be monolithically formed, integrally connected or include fastening elements and/or instruments, as described herein.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplification of the various embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A storage assembly comprising: an outer container including: a main body defining a cavity therein, the main body having a recessed bottom wall defining a pocket;at least two flaps pivotably coupled to the main body; anda lid for partially covering the cavity of the main body, the lid defining an opening therein; andan inner container including: a main body configured for receipt in the cavity of the main body of the outer container, the main body of the inner container defining a cavity therein; anda lid detachably coupled to the main body of the inner container to selectively cover the cavity of the main body of the inner container, wherein the at least two flaps of the outer container are configured to engage the inner container to position the lid of the inner container above the opening of the lid of the outer container.

2. The storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least two flaps of the outer container defines an arcuate cutout.

3. The storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein the main body of the inner container includes a neck configured for detachable coupling with the lid of the inner container, the arcuate cutout of each of the at least two flaps is dimensioned for receipt of the neck of the inner container.

4. The storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pocket of the outer container is dimensioned for receipt of a lid of another outer container of another storage assembly for vertical stacking of the storage assembly and the another storage assembly.

5. The storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pocket is further defined by a plurality of inner side walls of the main body of the outer container.

6. The storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein the main body of the inner container includes a top wall that is more rigid relative to the remainder of the main body of the inner container.

7. The storage assembly according to claim 6, wherein the remainder of the main body of the inner container is collapsible.

8. The storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein the main body of the inner container is fabricated from an opaque, polypropylene material.

9. The storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein the main body of the outer container includes: a plurality of flaps configured to detachably interlock with one another to define the recessed bottom wall of the main body; anda plurality of tabs pivotably coupling the plurality of flaps to a bottom end of the main body of the outer container, the plurality of tabs being configured to be folded into the cavity of the main body of the outer container, such that the plurality of tabs and the recessed bottom wall together form the pocket.

10. A storage assembly comprising: an outer container including: a main body defining a cavity therein; anda lid for partially covering the cavity of the main body, the lid defining an opening therein; andan inner container including: a main body configured for receipt in the cavity of the main body of the outer container, the main body of the inner container having a top wall that is more rigid relative to the remainder of the main body, the main body of the inner container defining a collapsible cavity therein; anda lid detachably coupled to the main body of the inner container to selectively cover the cavity of the main body of the inner container.

11. The storage assembly according to claim 10, wherein the lid of the inner container extends upwardly through the opening of the lid of the outer container when the inner container is disposed within the cavity of the outer container.

12. The storage assembly according to claim 10, wherein the main body of the outer container includes a recessed bottom wall defining a pocket.

13. The storage assembly according to claim 12, wherein the pocket of the outer container is dimensioned for receipt of a lid of another outer container of another storage assembly for vertical stacking of the storage assembly and the another storage assembly.

14. The storage assembly according to claim 12, wherein the pocket is further defined by a plurality of inner side walls of the main body of the outer container.

15. The storage assembly according to claim 10, wherein the remainder of the main body of the inner container is collapsible.

16. The storage assembly according to claim 10, wherein the main body of the inner container is fabricated from an opaque, polypropylene material.

17. The storage assembly according to claim 10, wherein the main body of the outer container includes: a plurality of flaps configured to detachably interlock with one another to define a recessed bottom wall of the main body of the outer container; anda plurality of tabs pivotably coupling the plurality of flaps to a bottom end of the main body of the outer container, the plurality of tabs being configured to be folded into the cavity of the main body of the outer container, such that the plurality of tabs and the recessed bottom wall together form a pocket.