This application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application No. 108148448, filed on Dec. 30, 2019, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to a container set, and more particularly to a container set having a locking structure.
For convenience, a container set for portable use, having a number of containers (e.g., cups, dishes etc.) of different sizes stacked and received in a case, is commonly available. However, in use, the containers may not be cleaned immediately after use. The used containers must be stacked and stowed, then taken home and washed. Consequently, poor sealing properties of the case can lead to a problem of leakage from the used cups and dishes, which may also experience unwanted vibration and agitation during transport, lacking secure fixing within the case.
In addition, the containers not being collapsible results in a bulky profile for the set, inconveniencing users.
A container set of the present invention provides a locking structure enabling containers therein to firmly engage with a cover and a base and preventing liquid leakage therefrom. The locking structure may also stabilize the containers, and utensils may be further secured in the stowed containers. Finally, the containers within the container set are collapsible, optimizing space utilization of the container set.
According to one aspect of the invention, the invention provides a container set including a cover and base. The cover has a cover sealing member of elastic material protruding from a cover peripheral edge of the cover to engage the base.
In one aspect of the invention, the cover sealing member protrudes outward along the cover peripheral edge to engage an inner surface of the base.
In one aspect of the invention, the inner surface of the base has a base groove to allow the cover sealing member to engage the base groove when the cover engages the base.
In one aspect of the invention, the container set further includes a first container having a container edge to allow the first container to engage an inner surface of the cover.
In one aspect of the invention, the cover sealing member extends along the cover peripheral edge and protrudes inward, and the container edge extends along a peripheral edge of the first container and protrudes outward to allow the first container to engage the cover through an engagement between the container edge and the cover sealing member.
In one aspect of the invention, the container edge, the cover sealing member and the base groove constitute an interlocking structure.
In one aspect of the invention, when the container edge engages the cover sealing member and when the cover sealing member engages the base groove, both the container edge and the base groove abut against the cover sealing member so that a seal is formed by the interlocking structure resulting from elastic deformation of the cover sealing member.
In one aspect of the invention, the container set further includes a second container placed between the first container and the cover.
In one aspect of the invention, an inner surface of the cover sealing member forms a cover groove extending along the cover peripheral edge, and when the first container engages the cover, the container edge engages the cover groove.
In one aspect of the invention, the cover groove is defined by at least one inner projection of the cover sealing member and the inner surface of the cover.
In one aspect of the invention, the elastic material is silicon rubber.
In one aspect of the invention, the elastic material is attached to the cover sealing member by coating.
In one aspect of the invention, the first container and the second container are foldable, and each of the first container and the second container includes a bottom portion and a top portion made of a first material, a middle portion made of a second material and having at least two folding segments, wherein the middle portion is located between the bottom portion and the top portion and connected to a top edge of the bottom portion and a bottom edge of the top portion respectively, and the first material has a higher Young's modulus than that of the second material.
In one aspect of the invention, the second material is silicon rubber.
In one aspect of the invention, the at least two folding segments comprise a first folding segment and a second folding segment, wherein the first folding segment is located adjacent to a position where the middle portion and the bottom portion join, and the second folding segment is located adjacent to a position where the middle portion and the top portion join, and wherein when the first container and the second container are folded, the first folding segment and the second folding segment are elastically deformed so that the bottom portion is folded and received at an inner side of the top portion, and the middle portion is folded between the top portion and the bottom portion.
In one aspect of the invention, the cover has a gas valve.
In one aspect of the invention, the container set further includes at least one utensil placed between the first container and the base.
To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the features of the invention and carry out the claimed invention, detailed description for the embodiments is provided along with the drawings. The description only serves to describe the preferable embodiments of the invention and does not impose any restrictions thereon. Any modifications or variations made in the same spirit of the invention shall lie within the scope of protection of the invention.
As shown in
In the embodiment, the cover sealing member 111 may be attached to the cover peripheral edge 113 by gluing, clamping, or coating. Preferably, the cover sealing member 111 is attached to the cover peripheral edge 113 by coating, thereby a seal is formed between the cover sealing member 111 and the cover peripheral edge 113 due to properties of the elastic material, so as to prevent mold or dust between the cover sealing member 111 and the cover peripheral edge 113 and to prevent the cover sealing member 111 from being separated from the cover peripheral edge 113. The elastic material may be silicone rubber or rubber. Preferably, the elastic material is silicone rubber.
As shown in
As shown in
The base groove 121 of the base 12 further includes a projection 1211 which has a substantially curved cross section. When the cover 11 engages the base 12, the outer projection 1111 of the cover sealing member 111 is engaged between the base groove 121 and the projection 1211. In such case, the outer projection 1111 of the cover sealing member 111 is elastically deformed due to the compression by the projection 1211 and the base groove 121, so that the outer projection 1111 of the cover sealing member 111 is subject to an upward holding force (from the base groove 121) and a downward holding force (from the projection 1211) to create the seal between the cover 11 and the base 12.
In the embodiment, the projection 1211 is integrally formed with the base groove 121. In other preferable embodiments of the present disclosure, the projection 1211 can be also independently made of elastic material, such as silicone rubber or rubber, etc. In such case, the projection 1211 can be attached to the base groove 121 through gluing, clamping, or coating. Preferably, the projection 1211 is attached to the base groove 121 through coating.
Additionally, in the embodiment, the base groove 121 and/or the projection 1211 located on the inner surface of the base 12 extends along a peripheral edge of the inner surface of the base 12 so as to provide a greater holding force on the cover 11 and the base 12.
As shown in
As shown in
In the embodiment, the inner projection 1112 and the outer projection 1111 of the cover sealing member 111 are integrally formed and attached to the cover peripheral edge 113 through, for example, gluing, clamping, or coating.
In other preferable embodiments, the outer projection 1111 and the inner projection 1112 of the cover sealing member 111 are individually made of elastic material. The outer projection 1111 and the inner projection 1112 can be attached to the cover sealing member 111 through gluing, clamping or coating. Preferably, the outer projection 1111 and the inner projection 1112 are attached to the cover sealing member 111 through coating.
In this embodiment, the container edge 131 and the projection 1311 are made of hard material. In other embodiments, the container edge 131 and the projection 1311 can be made of elastic material, such as silicone rubber or rubber, etc. The elastic material can be attached to the container edge 131 through gluing, clamping or coating. Preferably, the elastic material is attached to the container edge 131 through coating.
As shown in
Specifically, when the cover 11, the base 12 and the first container 13 are assembled, the projection 1311 of the container edge 131 engages the inner projection 1112 of the cover sealing member 111, and the cover sealing member 111 (or the outer projection 1111) is simultaneously engaged with the base groove 121. At this time, the projection 1311 of the container edge 131 abuts against the inner projection 1112 of the cover sealing member 111, the projection 1211 of the base groove 121 abuts against the outer projection 1111 of the cover sealing member 111, and the outer projection 1111 of the cover sealing member 111 (which may include the inner projection 1112) abuts against the base groove 121 simultaneously, such that the container edge 131, the cover sealing member 111, and the base groove 121 form the sealed interlocking structure through the elastic deformation of the outer projection 1111 and the inner projection 1112 (the reliability of the seal would be improved by elastic deformation as the projection 1311 is also made of elastic material).
As shown in
In one preferable embodiment of the invention, the cover groove 112, the inner projection 1112 and/or the outer projection 1111 can be a single component formed integrally.
In one preferable embodiment of the invention, the cover groove 112 is defined by the inner projection 1112 of the cover sealing member 111 and the inner surface of the cover 11.
In one preferable embodiment of the invention, when the cover 11 engages the first container 13, the projection 1311 of the first container 13 is engaged between the cover groove 112 and the inner projection 1112, and the projection 1311 of the first container 13 simultaneously abuts against the cover groove 112 and the inner projection 1112. As such, the projection 1311 of the first container 13 is subject to an upward holding force (from the inner projection 1112) and a downward holding force (from the cover groove 112) at the same time through an elastic deformation of the inner projection 1112 so as to create the seal between the cover 11 and the base 12.
As shown in
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As shown in
Additionally, the first material has a higher Young's modulus than the second material. Preferably, the first material is made of hard material, and the second material is made of pliable material or elastic material, such as rubber or silicone rubber, etc. In one preferable embodiment, the second material is made of silicon rubber.
Moreover, as shown in
In the embodiments set forth above, the folding segments 1331 and 1431 of the first and second containers 13 and 14 are referred to as first folding segments 1331 and 1431, and the folding segments 1332 and 1432 of the first and second containers 13 and 14 are referred to as second folding segments 1332 and 1432. The first folding segment 1331 is located adjacent to a position where the middle portion 133 and the bottom portion 134 join, and the first folding segment 1431 is located adjacent to a position where the middle portion 143 and the bottom portion 144 join. The second folding segment 1332 is located adjacent to a position where the middle portion 133 and the top portion 132 join, and the second folding segment 1432 is located adjacent to a position where the middle portion 143 and the top portion 142 join. When the first container 13 and the second container 14 are folded, the first folding segments 1331 and 1431 and the second folding segments 1332 and 1432 are elastically deformed so that the bottom portions 134 and 144 are folded and received at inner sides of the top portions 132 and 142 respectively, and the middle portions 133 and 143 are folded in between the top portions 132 and 142 and the bottom portions 134 and 144 respectively.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
To store the container set, the user may place the first container 13 and the second container 14 on a plane and press the top portions 132 and 142 of the first container 13 and the second container 14 downward to restore the first container 13 and the second container 14 to the folded state as shown in
The foregoing interlocking structure of the invention enables multiple containers to be tightly assembled, prevents leakage, and enables the multiple containers to be stacked in an orderly and stable manner. In addition, as shown in
The embodiments set forth above may be liable to minor modifications based on the spirit of the invention. However, the invention with minor modifications based on the spirit of the invention should be deemed to lie within the scope of protection. Further, the above descriptions are intended only for elaboration but not to limit the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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108148448 | Dec 2019 | TW | national |