The invention relates to containers, and in particular, to containers for storing or transporting food products.
Containers used for the storage or transportation of food products typically comprise a base with four sidewalls extending substantially vertically from the base. In many cases, these containers may be stacked on top of each other, in order to reduce the floor space required to store the containers.
However, if the stack of containers becomes too high, the containers are liable to topple over if the containers are not properly arranged. One conventional method for increasing the stability of a stack of containers is to provide protrusions (e.g. on an upper container) and corresponding indents (e.g. on a lower container). This ensures that the containers are somewhat connected to the containers above and below. This method is not always satisfactory though. In particular, it is often necessary to lift a container and place it directly above another container in order to stack them. This is inconvenient, especially where the containers for stacking are already elevated. In addition, it is often difficult to accurately situate containers directly above another container (in order for the protrusions and indents to properly align).
There is therefore a need for a container that is easy and convenient to stack.
A container in accordance with the present invention comprises a base and four sidewalls extending from the base. Corner columns extend between adjacent ones of the sidewalls. Proximate to an upper edge of the sidewalls, each of the sidewalls comprises an upwardly-extending rail, with a generally horizontal ledge extending outwardly from the rail. Proximate to a lower edge of the sidewalls, each of the sidewalls comprises a curved member that meets with the base. A downwardly-extending foot extends from the curved member. The foot and rail are horizontally offset.
The corner columns are recessed vertically with respect to the sidewalls. That is, the corner columns are generally shorter than the sidewalls. One or more corner notches are located on a lower edge of each of the corner columns.
When the containers are to be stacked, the corner notches of the upper container may be used to initially engage with the rails on the lower container. By angling the top container downward, at least a portion of the feet on the top container can then engage with the rails on the lower container. The upper container can then be slid across the lower container (through the engagement of the feet of the upper container with the rails of the lower container). Once the feet of the upper container reaches the end of the rails of the lower container, the corner columns of the upper container will slide into and engage with the corner columns of the lower container, thus fixing the upper container in place above the lower container.
In one embodiment, a container comprises a base, four sidewalls, and four corner columns. The base comprises four base edges extending along at least a portion of a perimeter of the base. One of the sidewalls extends from each of the four base edges. Each of the sidewalls comprises upper and lower edges, an upwardly-extending rail extending proximate to the upper edge, a curved wall extending proximate to the lower edge, and a downwardly-extending foot extending from the curved wall. The foot is horizontally offset from the rail. The four corner columns extend between adjacent ones of the sidewalls. Each of the corner columns comprises a first corner wall. Each of the first corner walls comprises one or more corner notches proximate to a lower edge of the first corner wall. The container is adapted to slide along at least a portion of another one of the container through slidable engagement of at least one of the corner notches with the rails on the other one of the container.
In another embodiment, the container is further adapted to stack on top of the other one of the container by engagement of the feet with the rails on the other one of the container.
In yet another embodiment, the container is adapted to slide along the other one of the container through slidable engagement of two of the corner notches with the rails on the other one of the container.
In still yet another embodiment, the foot is inward of the rail.
In still a further embodiment, each of the outer corner walls comprises at least two corner notches.
In another embodiment, each of the corner columns further comprises a second corner wall. The first and second corner walls define, at least in part, a corner channel extending for at least a portion of a height of the corner column.
In still another embodiment, the corner columns are shorter than the sidewalls.
The foregoing was intended as a summary only and of only some of the aspects of the invention. It was not intended to define the limits or requirements of the invention. Other aspects of the invention will be appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the embodiments.
The preferred embodiment of the invention will be described by reference to the drawings thereof, in which:
Referring to
The container 100 comprises first and second ends 168, 170, with the first and third base edges 104, 108 extending between the first and second ends 168, 170. The second and fourth base edges 106, 110 extend along the first and second ends 168, 170, respectively.
First, second, third, and fourth sidewalls 114, 116, 118, 120 extend from the base 102 from the first, second, third, and fourth base edges 104, 106, 108, 110, respectively. Preferably, the first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls 114, 116, 118, 120 extend substantially perpendicularly from the first, second, third, and fourth base edges 104, 106, 108, 110, respectively, such that the container 100 has a substantially cuboid shape. Each of the first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls 114, 116, 118, 120 comprise an inner sidewall surface 122.
First, second, third, and fourth corner columns 124, 126, 128, 130 extend between adjacent ones of the sidewalls 114, 116, 118, 120. In particular, the first corner column 124 extends between the first and second sidewalls 114, 116; the second corner column 126 extends between the second and third sidewalls 116, 118; the third corner column 128 extends between the third and fourth sidewalls 118, 120; and the fourth corner column 130 extends between the fourth and first sidewalls 120, 114.
The corner columns 124, 126, 128, 130 are generally rounded such that the container 100, when viewed from above, as in
The outer corner wall 134 is also preferably curved, but its degree of curvature may be greater than that of the inner corner wall 128, as shown in
Referring to
The lower portion 148 comprises a curved wall 156 that extends between the wall portion 150 and the base 102. The curved wall 156 comprises a curved wall edge 157 that meets with the wall portion 150. The curved wall 156 provides for a generally smooth and continuous transition from the inner sidewall surfaces 122 to the inner base surface 112. A downwardly-extending foot 158 extends from the curved wall 156. Preferably, the foot 158 extends generally vertically from the curved wall 156. Referring to
As best shown in
The wall portion 150 preferably comprises a plurality of wall openings 160 extending therethrough. The wall openings 160 may provide ventilation for the container 100. In addition, the wall portion 150 may comprise one or more outwardly extending ribs 162. The ribs 162 may act to provide additional strength and rigidity to the sidewalls 114, 116, 118, 120. The wall portion 150 may also comprise handhold openings 164 to allow for the insertion of fingers to facilitate the grasping of the container 100.
Referring to
The stacking mechanism of the container 100 will now be described.
Furthermore, the curved walls 152a on the sidewalls 114a, 116a, 118a, 120a will engage with the rails 148b on the sidewalls 114b, 116b, 118b, 120b, thereby preventing the first container 100a from being pushed too far within the second container 100b.
Referring to
When the first container 100a is engaged within the second container 100b as described above, the engagement of the feet 158a of the first container 100a with the rails 152b of the second container 100b prevent any lateral movement of the first container 100a with respect to the second container 100b.
The first container 100a may be removed from the second container 100b by lifting the first container 100a upwardly until the feet 158a of the first container 100a are no longer engaged with the rails 152b of the second container 100b.
The container 100 can be slid along both a longitudinal axis L and a transverse axis T, which are shown in
As shown in
The first and second containers 100a, 100b can be slid along the transverse axis T in a similar manner, with other ones of the corner notches 144a on the first container 100a engaging the rails 152b of the second and fourth sidewalls 116b, 120b of the second container 100b.
Because the containers 100a, 100b can be slid along both their longitudinal and transverse axes L, T, there are preferably two of the corner notches 144 on each of the corner columns 124, 126, 128, 130. For example, in the embodiment shown in
The presence of the corner notches 144 assist in allowing for the sliding action of one of the containers 100 along another one of the containers 100 below it. In addition, the recessed nature of the corner columns 124, 126, 128, 130 (with respect to the sidewalls 114, 116, 118, 120) allow for easier locating (and stacking) of one of the containers 100 on top of another one of the containers 100 below it.
Referring to
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the preferred embodiment has been described in some detail but that certain modifications may be practiced without departing from the principles of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/336,171 filed Apr. 28, 2022, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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63336171 | Apr 2022 | US |