BACKGROUND
Field of the Disclosure
The technology of the disclosure relates to containers and related couplings between containers.
Technical Background
Conventional enclosures are convenient for containing items to be used. Generally, an enclosure has a body having an inner surface that defines an inner space. One or more items may be located in the inner space and surrounded by the body. The enclosure may also include an opening to permit the one or more items to be placed into the inner space. This opening may also allow the one or more items to be later removed from the inner space. Examples of enclosures may be separate containers to hold French fries, catsup, and mustard.
Enclosures may offer several advantages by preventing contamination, permitting ease of transportation, and convenient allocation of resources. Indeed, the items within enclosures may be protected from contamination from other items outside by the body that surrounds it. The shape and size of the body may be designed to facilitate easy, safe and convenient transportation of the items carried therein. Also, the sizes of enclosures may be designed to accommodate precise quantities of items to ensure that resources are properly allocated, such as specified medicine doses for a patient. In these and countless other ways, enclosures have demonstrated their usefulness.
However, conventional enclosures don't conveniently support multi-tasking activities involving the use of several enclosures at the same time. This may be be particularly challenging when space is limited. For example, when eating a meal including French fries, catsup and mustard, these items may all be preferably kept in different enclosures before being consumed by a user. These enclosures may be kept on a countertop and accessed sequentially, and/or may alternatively be held in the user's hand in an informal and unpredictable random order as the French fries are dipped into the condiments according to taste during the meal. There also may be multiple users at the meal and each accessing the various enclosures as social customs dictate. This can be complicated as one or more of the enclosures may inadvertently fall over spilling contents on a countertop or floor as enclosures are exchanged between multiple users and possibly misplaced. Also, one or more of the enclosures may be misplaced in the environment causing frustration to the user. Conventional approaches for organizing enclosures in such environments may include using a tray customized for the enclosures being used, but trays may be incompatible in situations where there is limited space.
There are also analogous situations to the French fries' example that also illustrate deficiencies. For example, in situations where medical professionals utilize several items in enclosures wherein these items are used frequently together during an interaction with a patient and it is critical that these enclosures do not get misplaced, but sometimes they do. Another exemplary situation may be in a factory where workers assemble screws, nuts, lock washers, and locknuts from different enclosures during an assembly operation in a busy environment where things can be easily misplaced.
Given these issues there is an unmet need for a system and related method to more efficiently and effectively use multiple enclosures in a space-limited environment.
SUMMARY OF THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments disclosed herein include container systems employing linking subsystems for coupling enclosure bodies, and related methods. A container system may include first and second enclosure bodies. Each of the bodies contains a wall structure enclosing an inner space and a lip forming a passageway through the wall structure. The container system also includes a linking subsystem configured to reversibly couple the wall structures of the bodies together. The user may uncouple the bodies from each other and recouple them together as desired. In this manner, the container system offers a more stable combination resistant to falling over and an organizational flexibility to couple the bodies together when items within the bodies and desired to be used together.
In one embodiment, a container system is disclosed. The container system includes first and second enclosure bodies, wherein each includes a wall structure surrounding an inner space, a lip forming a passageway through the wall structure, and a support surface connected to the wall structure and configured to abut against a planar surface when the passageway faces away from the planar surface. The container system further includes a linking subsystem configured to reversibly couple the wall structures of first and second enclosure bodies while both of the support surfaces of the first and second enclosure abut against the planar surface. The linking subsystem includes at least one of: an adhesive material and a cohesive material. The wall structures respectively connect the lips to the support surfaces. In this manner, a proximate relationship of the first and the second enclosure bodies may be adjusted by the user to provide convenient access to the contents of both enclosure bodies during use.
In another embodiment, a method for using a container system is disclosed. The method includes receiving a first item in a first inner space surrounded by a first wall structure of a first enclosure body via a first passageway of the first enclosure body, wherein a first lip of the first enclosure body forms the first passageway through the first wall structure. The method also includes reversibly coupling the first and the second enclosure bodies by abutting the first and the second wall structures of the first and the second enclosure bodies against a linking subsystem disposed therebetween, wherein the second enclosure body includes a second wall structure surrounding the second inner space of the second enclosure body and a second lip of the second enclosure body forms a second passageway of the second enclosure body through the second wall structure of the second enclosure body. The method also includes uncoupling, with the linking subsystem, the first and second enclosure bodies by pulling apart the first and the second enclosure bodies with a separation force. In this manner, the contents of a second body can be used efficiently with the contents of the first body in a compact user area.
Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the embodiments as described herein, including the detailed description that follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the disclosure. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments, and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operation of the concepts disclosed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
FIG. 1A is a top perspective view of an exemplary container system including first and second enclosure bodies wherein the first and the second enclosure bodies are uncoupled using a linking subsystem extending from the second enclosure body;
FIGS. 1B-1A and 1B-1B are a top perspective view and a top view respectively of the first and the second enclosure bodies of the container system of FIG. 1A wherein first and second wall structures respectively of the first and the second enclosure bodies are coupled together with the linking subsystem;
FIG. 1B-2 is a top perspective view of the first and the second enclosure bodies of the container system of FIG. 1A wherein the second wall structure of the second enclosure body is coupled to a first support surface of the first enclosure body with the linking subsystem;
FIGS. 2A through 2E are a top perspective view, front view, right side view, top view, and bottom view respectively of the second enclosure body of FIG. 1A;
FIGS. 3A through 3D are a top perspective view, front view, right side view, and top view respectively of an exemplary liner;
FIGS. 4A and 4B are respectively top perspective and right side views of the liner of FIG. 3A reversibly attached to the linking subsystem and a second lip of the second enclosure body of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of using the container system of FIG. 1A;
FIGS. 6A through 6D and FIG. 7 are a top perspective view, front view, right side view, top view, and bottom view respectively of a second enclosure body that is another embodiment of a second enclosure body of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the first and the second enclosure bodies of another embodiment of a container system wherein the first and the second wall structures are coupled together with an alternative linking system including double-sided adhesive tape;
FIGS. 9A and 9B are top perspective and top views respectively of the container system of FIG. 1A, wherein the first and second enclosure bodies rest upon the planar surface and the first enclosure body exhibits wobble;
FIGS. 10A and 10B are top perspective and top views respectively of the container system of FIG. 9A, wherein the first and the second enclosure bodies are coupled together with the linking subsystem therebetween as coupling force FC is applied manually by the user;
FIG. 11A is top perspective view of the first and the second enclosure bodies of FIG. 10A coupled together, wherein a user lifts both the first and the second bodies while grasping only the first enclosure body;
FIG. 11B is top perspective view of the first and the second enclosure bodies of FIG. 10A coupled together, wherein a user lifts both the first and the second bodies while grasping only the second enclosure body;
FIG. 12 is a top view of the container system of FIG. 10A, wherein optional second, third, and fourth enclosure bodies are coupled to the first enclosure body;
FIGS. 13A and 13B are top perspective and top views respectively of the container system of FIG. 9A, wherein the first and the second enclosure bodies are uncoupled by the user manually applying a separation force FS to the first and the second enclosure bodies;
FIGS. 14A and 14B are top perspective and top views respectively of the container system of FIG. 13A, wherein the wall structure of the first enclosure body is positioned to abut against the planar surface;
FIGS. 15A and 15B are top perspective and top views respectively of the container system of FIG. 13A, wherein the first and the second enclosure bodies are coupled together with the linking subsystem therebetween as a coupling force FC is applied manually by the user to couple the wall structure of the second enclosure body with the support surface of the first enclosure body;
FIG. 16 is a top view of the container system of FIG. 15A, wherein optional second and third enclosure bodies are coupled to the first enclosure body; and
FIGS. 17A and 17B are top perspective and top views respectively of the container system of FIG. 15A, wherein the first and the second enclosure bodies are uncoupled by the user manually applying a separation force FS to the first and the second enclosure bodies.
To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements and features of one embodiment may be beneficially incorporated in other embodiments without further recitation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments are shown. Indeed, the concepts may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limiting herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like components or parts.
Embodiments disclosed herein include container systems employing linking subsystems for coupling enclosure bodies, and related methods. A container system may include first and second enclosure bodies. Each of the bodies contains a wall structure enclosing an inner space and a lip forming a passageway through the wall structure. The container system also includes a linking subsystem configured to reversibly couple the wall structures of the bodies together. The user may uncouple the bodies from each other and recouple them together as desired. In this manner, the container system offers a more stable combination resistant to falling over and an organizational flexibility to couple the bodies together when items within the bodies and desired to be used together.
In this regard, FIG. 1A is a top perspective view of an exemplary container system 100 including a first enclosure body 102A and second enclosure body 102B. The first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B are uncoupled using a linking subsystem 104 extending from the second enclosure body 102B. Details of the linking subsystem 104 are provided below and may include, for example, an adhesive film 106 to couple the first enclosure body 102A with the second enclosure body 102B.
Before discussing the coupling with the linking subsystem 104, the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B will now be introduced. The first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B respectively include first and second wall structures 108A, 108B, first and second lips 110A, 110B, and first and second support surfaces 112A, 112B. The wall structures 108A, 108B respectively surround first and second inner spaces 114A, 114B. In this manner, the first and second wall structures 108A, 108B can respectively contain first and second items 116A, 116B within the inner spaces 114A, 114B.
Entry and exit of the first and the second items 116A, 116B from the first and second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B are facilitated by the first and the second lips of the 110A, 110B. The first and the second lips 110A, 110B may be respectively connected to the first and the second support surfaces 112A, 112B through the first and the second wall structures 108A, 108B. The first and the second lips 110A, 110B of the first and second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B respectively form first and second passageways 118A, 118B through the wall structures 108A, 108B. The passageways 118A, 118B can be sized to enable the first and the second items 116A, 116B to pass into and out of the first and the second inner spaces 114A, 114B. In this manner, access to the inner spaces 114A, 114B can be limited according to sizing of the passageways 118A, 118B.
The support surfaces 112A, 112B enable the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B to rest upon a planar surface 120 as the first and second passageways 118A, 118B face away from the planar surface 120. The support surfaces 112A, 112B are configured to respectively convey weights of the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B. Specifically, the support surfaces 112A, 112B are respectively configured to abut against a planar surface 120 when the passageways 118A, 118B face away from the planar surface 120. In this manner, the support surfaces 112A, 112B may free a user from the task of continuously needing to manually hold the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B.
The linking subsystem 104 is used for coupling. The linking subsystem 104 may extend from and be coupled to the second wall structure 108B prior to coupling to the first enclosure body 102A. The linking subsystem 104 may comprise the at least one adhesive film 106 configured to reversibly couple the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B. In this regard, the at least one of the adhesive film 106 may be coupled to the first enclosure body 102A and the second enclosure body 102B using van der Waals forces of adhesion. The linking subsystem 104 may be disposed between and abut against the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B in order to form the van der Waals forces of adhesion. Alternatively, cohesion may also be used. In this manner, the first and the second enclosure bodies may be coupled.
When reversibly coupled, the linking subsystem 104 resists relative movement between both the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B. FIGS. 1B-1A and 1B-1B are a top perspective view and a top view respectively of the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B of the container system 100 of FIG. 1A wherein the first and second wall structures 108A, 108B respectively of the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B are coupled together with the linking subsystem 104 of the container system 100. The linking subsystem 104 may resist relative movement between the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B in three axial force directions F1 through F3 (FIGS. 1B-1A and 1B-1B) by having at least having a bonding strength force F1 preferably in a range from 0.1 to 0.8 pounds and an adhesive (or cohesive) area of at least 0.25 square centimeters. The shear resistance forces F2, F3 are also provided by the adhesive bonds between the linking subsystem 104 and the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B. These shear resistance forces also resist relative movement between the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B during coupling. In this manner, the linking subsystem 104 may couple the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B and thereby reducing the opportunity for the first or the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B from being misplaced as opposed to if they were not coupled together.
It also is expected that the user may be able to manually pick up the first or second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B coupled together by grasping and applying a lifting force to only one of the first and second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B and not having the coupling provided by the linking subsystem 104 fail due to a weight of the body that is not directly grasped by the user.
The linking subsystem 104 is also configured to facilitate decoupling of the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B. The user may manually exert a separation force FS greater than the bonding strength of the linking subsystem 104 and the linking subsystem 104 may detach from the first wall structure 108A of the first enclosure body 102A. The linking subsystem 104 may later reattach by having the user abut the linking subsystem 104 extending from the second enclosure body 102B against the first enclosure body 102A. In this manner, the linking subsystem 104 provides reversible coupling.
The linking subsystem 104 may also enable alternative configurations of couplings. FIG. 1B-2 is a top perspective view of the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B of the container system 100 of FIG. 1A, wherein the second wall structure 108B of the second enclosure body 102B is coupled to the first support surface 112A of the first enclosure body with the linking subsystem 104. In order to facilitate this alternate configuration, the first enclosure body 102A may include the same material and surface characteristics as the first wall structure 108A as discussed later with reference to FIGS. 2A through 2E. This capability may allow the flexibility for the user to customize the position of the first enclosure body 102A relative to the second enclosure body 102B. In this manner, alternate configurations of couplings are possible, such as the wall structure 108B to the wall structure 108A or wall structure 108B to support surface 112A as the user desires to optimize coupling for operational efficiency.
Now that the container system 100 has been introduced, details of the second enclosure body 102B and the linking subsystem 104 are now provided. FIGS. 2A through 2E are a top perspective view, front view, right side view, top view, and bottom view respectively of the second enclosure body 108B of FIG. 1A. As briefly described earlier, the second enclosure body 102B includes the second wall structure 108B surrounding the second inner space 114B. The second lip 110B forms the second passageway 118B through the second wall structure 108B. The second passageway 118B allows the second item 116B to enter into and depart from the second inner space 114B surrounded by the second wall structure 108B. Also, the second enclosure body 102B includes the second support surface 112B connected to the second lip 110B by the second wall structure 108B. In this manner, the second enclosure body 102B may contain the second item 116B conveniently.
The structure of the second enclosure body 102B may facilitate connection to the linking subsystem 104. As discussed earlier, the linking subsystem 104 may extend from the second wall structure body 108B. Specifically, the linking subsystem 104 may extend from a second external surface 124B of the second wall structure 108B. In some embodiments the second external surface 124B may be artificially roughened (not shown) with the addition of grooves or small bumps improve attachment of the linking subsystem 104 to the second external surface 124B. Alternately the linking subsystem 104 may comprise double-sided tape, for example including acrylic adhesive or rubber adhesive. Opposite sides of the double-sided tape may include different bonding strengths F1. In this manner, the linking subsystem 104 may be configured to less likely to detach from the second external surface 124B upon decoupling of the linking subsystem 104 with the first enclosure body 102A. This makes recoupling at a different region of the first enclosure body 102B possible with the same linking subsystem 104.
It should also be noted that the linking subsystem 104 may be configured to couple and decouple at least three times as desired by the user while maintaining at least half of its bonding strength F1. In this way, the user would be more likely to be customize the coupling of the linking subsystem 104 to maximize the performance of the container system 100.
With continued reference to FIGS. 2A through 2E, there are more structural details of the second enclosure body 102B. For example, the second enclosure body 102B may include rigid materials or flexible materials, for example, cardboard, metal, aluminum, or plastic. A second inner surface 126B may include food safe materials (e.g. wax coating) to allow the second item 116B contained therein to include foodstuffs. As to dimensions, the height A1 of the second enclosure body 102B may be in a range from one (1) to five (5) centimeters. The width A2 of the second enclosure body 102B may be in a second range from 1.5 to five (5) centimeters. Also, the second inner space 114B of the second enclosure body 102B includes a volume in a range from 100 milliliters to 1000 milliliters. In this manner, the second enclosure body 102B may be compatible with a variety of items, including foodstuffs such as condiments (e.g. ketchup, BBQ sauce, sweet and sour sauce, mustard, etc.).
There are further details of the linking subsystem 104. The linking subsystem 104 may have a height A3 in a third range from one (1) to five (5) centimeters. The width A4 of the linking subsystem 104 may be in a fourth range from 0.5 to two (2) centimeters. The thickness of the linking subsystem 104 may be in a fifth range from 0.5 millimeter to five (5) centimeters. The linking subsystem 104 may include adhesives, for example, pressure-sensitive adhesives containing an elastomer and a tackifier such as a rosin ester. In this manner, the linking subsystem 104 may provide a reversible coupling between the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B.
The second enclosure body 102B may include a liner 128. FIGS. 3A through 3D are a top perspective view, front view, right side view, and top view respectively of the exemplary liner 128. A main portion 130 of the liner 128 may include a flexible material, for example, aluminum or plastic, to abut against the second lip 110B and close the second passageway 118B. The liner 128 may also include a tail 132 extending from the main portion 130. The tail 132 may abut against the linking subsystem 104 to protect the linking subsystem 104 prior to being coupled to the first enclosure body 102A. The main portion 130 and the tail 132 may be removed by the user at the same time to promote convenience. In this regard, FIGS. 4A and 4B are a top perspective and right side views of the liner 128 of FIG. 3A reversibly attached to the linking subsystem 104 and the second lip 110B and of the second enclosure body of FIG. 1A prior to the removal of the liner 128 by the user.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary method 200 for using the container system of FIG. 1. The method 200 is now discussed using the terminology discussed above in relation to the operations 202A through 202F as depicted in FIG. 5. In this regard, the method 200 includes receiving the first item 116A in the first inner space 114A surrounded by the first wall structure 108A of the first enclosure body 102A via the first passageway 118A of the first enclosure body 102A, wherein the first lip 110A of the first enclosure body 102A forms the first passageway 118A through the first wall structure 108A (operation 202A of FIG. 5). In this manner, the contents of the first enclosure body 102A may be made available for use.
The method 200 also includes reversibly coupling the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B by abutting the first and the second wall structures 108A, 108B of the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B against the linking subsystem 104 disposed therebetween, wherein the second enclosure body 102B includes the second wall structure 108B surrounding the second inner space 114B of the second enclosure body 102B and the second lip 110B forms the second passageway 118B of the second enclosure body 102B through the second wall structure 108B of the second enclosure body 102B (operation 202B of FIG. 5). In this manner, the first and second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B may be placed upon the planar surface 120 with the first and the second support surfaces 112A, 112B abutting the planar surface 120 and the first enclosure body 102A will have less propensity to tip over so that the first wall structure 108A would abut against the planar surface 120 and cause the first item to inadvertently exit the first inner space 114A and be contaminated or otherwise be unusable.
The method 200 also includes uncoupling, with the linking subsystem 104, the first and second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B by pulling apart the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B (operation 202C of FIG. 5). In this manner, the container system 100 may be reconfigured as needed by the user for convenience.
The method 200 also includes further comprising reversibly coupling the first wall structure 108A of the first enclosure body 102A with the second support surface 112B of the second enclosure body 102B while the planar surface 120 abuts against both of the first support surface 112A of the first enclosure body 102A and the second wall structure 108B of the second enclosure body 102B (operation 202D of FIG. 5). In this manner, the container system 100 may be customized to allow the first enclosure body 102A to rest upon the first wall structure 108A instead of the first support surface 112A when the characteristics of the first item 116A would otherwise cause the first elongated body 102A to fall over.
The method 200 also may include further comprising removing the first item 116A from the first enclosure body 102A before dipping the first item 116A in the second item 116B which is disposed in the second enclosure body 102B (operation 202E of FIG. 5). In this manner, the container system 100 may be used in a food service situation to facilitate the dipping of foodstuffs (e.g. French Fries dipped into condiments).
The method 200 also may include further comprising unsealing the second passageway 118B of the second enclosure body 102B by removing the liner 128 from the second lip 1110B of the second enclosure body 102B and exposing the second item 116B disposed in the second inner space 114B of the second enclosure body 102B (operation 202F of FIG. 5). In this manner, the second item 116B may be protected in the second inner space 114B prior to use.
Other embodiments of the container system 100 are possible. For example, FIGS. 6A through 6D and FIG. 7 are a top perspective view, front view, right side view, top view, and bottom view respectively of a second enclosure body 300B that is another embodiment of a second enclosure body 102B of FIG. 1A. The second enclosure body 300B shares many characteristics with the second enclosure body 102B and so for purposes of conciseness and clarity these shared differences will not be repeated and instead differences will be discussed. In this regard, the linking subsystem 104 extends from a flat surface portion 302 of a semicircular cross section 304 of the second enclosure body 102B. The flat surface portion 302 facilitates a more planar shape of the linking 104 that may better match contours of the first enclosure body 102A and thereby improve the coupling strength between the linking subsystem 104 and the first enclosure body 102A.
There are other details of alternative embodiments of the container system 100 are possible. FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B of another embodiment of a container system 400 wherein the first and the second wall structures 108A, 108B are coupled together with an alternative linking system 402 including double-sided adhesive tape 404. The double-sided adhesive tape 404 extends from the second enclosure body 102B and during coupling forms an adhesive bond with the first enclosure body 102A. The double-sided adhesive tape 404 includes a first adhesive layer 406A configured to reversibly couple to the first enclosure body 102A and a second adhesive layer 406B configured to couple to the second enclosure body 102B. The first and second adhesive layers 406A, 406B of the double-sided tape 404 may include different bonding strengths F1. In this manner, the linking subsystem 402 may be configured to less likely detach from the second external surface 124B upon decoupling of the first and second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B. This difference in bonding strengths F1 facilitates recoupling the second enclosure body 102B to a different region of the first enclosure body 102A with the same linking subsystem. The double-sided tape 404 may also include a foam strip 408 disposed between the first and second adhesive layers 406A, 406B. The foam strip 408 may deform upon coupling of the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B and thereby provide better effective contact between the first and second adhesive layers 406A, 406B and the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B.
Next, many of the concepts discussed above will be further summarized in an exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9A through 17B.
FIGS. 9A and 9B are top perspective and top views respectively of the container system 100 of FIG. 1A, wherein the support surfaces 112A, 112B of the first and second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B abut upon the planar surface 120 and the first enclosure body 102A exhibits wobble 500. The first and second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B remain uncoupled by the linking system 104. For this example, the first and second items 116A, 116B within the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B may be French fries 501A and ketchup 501B respectively. In this manner, the container system, is ready for coupling the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B.
FIGS. 10A and 10B are top perspective and top views respectively of the container system 100 of FIG. 9A, wherein the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B are coupled together with the linking subsystem 104 therebetween as a coupling force FC is applied manually by the user. The coupling force FC facilitates abutment between the first enclosure body 102A and the linking subsystem 104 as well as between the second enclosure body 102B and the linking system 104. The linking system 104 may contain at least one of an adhesive material or a cohesive material to establish this coupling. In this manner, the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B are coupled together and the user can reduce the chance that either body may be misplaced and the wobbling 500 is reduced as each body supports each other.
FIG. 11A is top perspective view of the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B of FIG. 10A coupled together, wherein a user 502 lifts both the first and the second bodies 102A, 102B while grasping only the first enclosure body 102A. The bonding strength force F1 may be configured to maintain the second enclosure body 102B in a static relationship to the first enclosure body 102A by countering a weight W2 of the second enclosure body 102B and contents therein. In this manner, the user 500 may still achieve a higher organizational efficiency in a mobile situation without requiring the planar surface 120 to support the container system 100.
Similarly, FIG. 11B is top perspective view of the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B of FIG. 10A coupled together, wherein the user 500 lifts both the first and the second bodies 102A, 102B while grasping only the second enclosure body 102B. The bonding strength force F1 may be configured to maintain the first enclosure body 102A in a static relationship to the second enclosure body 102B by countering a weight W1 of the first enclosure body 102A and contents therein. In this manner, the user 500 also may still achieve a higher organizational efficiency in a mobile situation without requiring the planar surface 120 to support the container system 100.
FIG. 12 is a top view of the container system 100 of FIG. 10A, wherein optional second, third, and fourth enclosure bodies 102(2)-102(4) are coupled to the first enclosure body 102A with linking subsystems 104(2)-104(4). In this manner, multiple enclosure bodies may be coupled to the first enclosure body 102A to achieve a high degree of organization and help prevent wobble 500 of the first enclosure body 102A. In other words, organizational opportunities to add other condiments (e.g. BBQ sauce, sweet and sour sauce, and mustard) may be added to the container system 100 with the coupling of the enclosure bodies 102(2)-102(4).
FIGS. 13A and 13B are top perspective and top views respectively of the container system 100 of FIG. 9A, wherein the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B are uncoupled by the user manually applying a separation force FS to the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B. The applied separation force FS overcomes the bonding strength force F1 and the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B become decoupled as the linking subsystem 104 remains extended from the second enclosure body 102B. In this manner, decoupling can occur and enable more organizational flexibility for the user.
FIGS. 14A and 14B are top perspective and top views respectively of the container system 100 of FIG. 13A, wherein the wall structure 108A of the first enclosure body 102A is positioned to abut against the planar surface 120. Sometimes the user enjoys eating their French fries 501A with the wall structure 108A of the first enclosure body 102A abutting against the planar surface 120. In this manner, the container system 100 can also accommodate coupling.
FIGS. 15A and 15B are top perspective and top views respectively of the container system 100 of FIG. 13A, wherein the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B are coupled together with the linking subsystem 104 therebetween as a coupling force FC is applied manually by the user to couple the wall structure 108B of the second enclosure body 102B with the support surface 112A of the first enclosure body 102A. The coupling force FC facilitates abutment between the first enclosure body 102A and the linking subsystem 104 as well as between the second enclosure body 102B and the linking system 104. The linking system 104 may contain at least one of an adhesive material or a cohesive material to establish this coupling. In this manner, the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B are coupled together and the user can reduce the chance that either body may be misplaced and the wobbling 500 is reduced as each body supports each other.
FIG. 16 is a top view of the container system 100 of FIG. 15A, wherein optional second and third enclosure bodies 102(2)-102(3) are coupled to the first enclosure body 102A with linking subsystems 104(2)-104(3). In this manner, multiple enclosure bodies may be coupled to the first enclosure body 102A to achieve a high degree of organization and help prevent wobble 500 of the first enclosure body 102A. In other words, organizational opportunities to add other condiments (e.g. BBQ sauce, sweet and sour sauce, or mustard) may be added to the container system 100 with the coupling of the enclosure bodies 102(2)-102(3).
FIGS. 17A and 17B are top perspective and top views respectively of the container system 100 of FIG. 15A, wherein the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B are uncoupled by the user manually applying a separation force FS to the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B. The applied separation force FS overcomes the bonding strength force F1 and the first and the second enclosure bodies 102A, 102B become decoupled as the linking subsystem 104 remains extended from the second enclosure body 102B. In this manner, decoupling can occur and enable more organizational flexibility for the user.
Many modifications and other embodiments not set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the embodiments pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the description and claims are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. It is intended that the embodiments cover the modifications and variations of the embodiments provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Patent Application
20210101733
