The present disclosure relates to a storage container, and more particularly to a pair of storage containers connected together.
Storage containers of varying sizes and material types are well known in the industry. Storage containers are generally known to have a base portion for holding desired contents and a lid for covering the base and enclosing the contents within an interior of the container.
Objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which:
The present disclosure provides for a storage container assembly. In one example, the disclosed storage container assembly can be used for storing food as well as eating utensils and the like. The storage container assembly includes a primary storage container and a secondary storage container connected to the primary container. Each storage container has a lid that connects to and seals with a base. In one embodiment, the secondary container is sized to store eating utensils separate from food items stored in the primary container. The storage container can be made of any suitable material, but in the disclosed example is made of a plastic material such as polypropylene or polyethylene. The storage container may be categorized as disposable or semi-disposable when made of thin, inexpensive plastic because the storage container may be disposed of after one or more uses. Further, the storage container assembly may be formed from any one of a number of processes, such as thermo-forming, vacuum forming, pressure forming and/or injection molding.
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A recessed cavity 40 is formed in a top surface 42 of the primary lid 26 in this example. The recessed cavity 40 includes a lower surface 44 and a perimeter wall 46 extending upward from the periphery of the lower surface 44 to the top surface 42.
A snap fit mechanism 50 (best seen in
The primary base 24 has at least one partition 60 in this example that divides the primary storage space 28 into separate storage compartments 62, 64. While not shown, it should be understood that the storage space can be formed without any partition or may have several partitions. Further, a partition can be formed in the primary lid 26 that is opposed to the base 24. The partition 60 in the depicted example is shown in a lateral orientation, but one or more longitudinally disposed partitions are also contemplated by the present disclosure. It should also be understood that the secondary container 14 may also include partitions in a similar manner disclosed in the primary container 12.
The primary lid 26 may also include a flap 80 extending outward from the top surface 42 thereof for a user to grasp when opening the lid 26 from the primary base 24. Likewise, the secondary container lid 32 may include a flap 82 extending outward from a perimeter 72 of the lid 32 for a user to grasp when opening the lid 32 from the secondary base 30.
It should be understood by one skilled in the art that the protrusions 52 and the receptacles 54 can alternatively be positioned on the secondary base 30 and primary lid 26, respectively. Also, the number and position of protrusions 52 and receptacles 54 can vary in any manner desired. Furthermore, depending on the material selection and the thickness of the sidewalls 86a, 86b of the secondary base 30, the sidewalls 86a, 86b may also be displaced inward when the containers 12, 14 are snapped together. It should also be understood that other mechanical locking mechanisms such as dovetail joints, etc., as is known to those skilled in the art, can be employed to connect the containers 12, 14 together. Likewise, other materials such as glass, metal, or ceramic can be used with alternate locking mechanisms.
The lids 26, 32 sealingly engage with their respective bases 24, 30 via a tongue and groove connection as is known to those skilled in the art. The primary lid 26 includes a tongue 65 in this example that sealingly engages with or seats in a groove 66 formed around a perimeter 68 (see
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In operation, the nestable storage container 10 can be used to store items separate from one another. In one example, the primary storage container 12 may store various food items (not shown) while the secondary container 14 may be used to store eating utensils (not shown). The eating utensils may include items such as forks, spoons, and knives for picnics, lunches away from home or similar functions. While the secondary storage container 14 may be sized to store any type of utensil such as standard silverware or serving utensils, it may alternatively be used to store additional food products.
Initially, a user can fill the primary container 12 with one or more desired items, such as food, and snap the primary lid 26 onto the primary base 24 to seal the storage space 28. A user can then place one or more additional items, such as eating utensils into the secondary storage container 14 and close the lid 32 onto the secondary base 30 to seal the storage space 34. The secondary storage container 14 is then pressed into the recessed cavity 40 of the primary lid 26 until the protrusions 52 of the primary lid 26 snap into the receptacles 54 of the secondary base 32. In order to remove the secondary container 14 from the primary container 12 a user merely grasps the flap 82 or another location along the outer perimeter 68 of the secondary container 14, and pulls upward to release the protrusions 52 from the receptacles 54. The secondary container 14 is then displaced upward from the primary container 12.
While the preceding text sets forth a detailed description of a number of embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as only providing examples, and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention. Describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention.