Patent Application
20090001076
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to storage containers, and more particularly to a storage system for storing a plurality of fluids, products, or other goods.
2. Description of Related Art
The prior art teaches various forms of containers having removable sub-containers. For example, Kowalski, U.S. Pat. No. 2,740,546, teaches a bucket having removable compartments. The compartments of the Kowalski container, however, have a round circumference and are positioned within a round bucket, thereby wasting a large portion of the volume of the bucket. Furthermore, since the containers do not abut each other in a secure manner, specially designed connectors are required. Another drawback, the Kowalski device does not include secure handles on the container, thereby making grasping, removing, and otherwise holding and/or manipulating the containers more difficult. Finally, the Kowalski device does not include the various other elements of the present invention that add to the utility of the present system.
Another prior art reference that discloses a related receptacle system is Axhamre, U.S. D426,925. The Axhamre receptacle also uses a paint bucket, and includes various sub-containers. The sub-containers used in Axhamre, however, are open at the top, and therefore cannot be used to store fluids such as paint for long periods of time. Furthermore, the sub-containers have large openings at their center, and therefore do not substantially fill the bucket outer receptacle. Finally, the Axhamre reference does not teach any of the related improvements such as the tray, funnel, or other elements disclosed in the present invention.
Schley, U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,619 teaches a fluid storage container that includes several rigid containers that fit within an outer container. The containers do not stack or nest, however, within the outer container.
The above-described references are hereby incorporated by reference in full.
The prior art teaches various container systems that include outer receptacles such as a bucket, used in conjunction with sub-containers stored within the receptacle. However, the prior art does not teach a container system that includes the structures and benefits as described in the following summary of the invention.
The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.
The present invention provides a storage system for storing a plurality of fluids or other goods. The storage system comprises a receptacle, and a plurality of containers that both stack/nest and tessellate within the receptacle to completely fill substantially all of the receptacle.
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a storage system having advantages not taught by the prior art.
Another objective is to provide a storage system that includes larger containers as well as smaller containers that stack upon or nest with each other so that the combined height of the smaller containers is approximately equal to the height of the larger container.
Another objective is to provide a storage system wherein the containers within the receptacle securely abut each other and the receptacle inner surface, and substantially fill the volume of the receptacle, thereby maximizing the storage capacity of the system, and also providing for secure storage of the fluids or other goods within the receptacle with minimal shifting and instability.
Another objective is to provide a storage system that includes containers having a suitable handle that makes grasping, removing, and otherwise holding and/or manipulating the containers easier and more efficient.
Another objective is to provide a storage system with the containers being pre-filled with a variety of products or goods, either before or at the time of purchase.
A further objective is to provide a storage system that may include a tray for covering the containers, and for providing a suitable container for pouring and mixing paint or other products, and for also providing additional elements, such as a funnel, that further enhance the utility of the invention.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:
The above-described drawing figures illustrate the invention, a storage system 10 for storing a plurality of fluids or other goods, materials, or products. The storage system 10 include a plurality of containers 30 adapted to fit within a receptacle 12.
As illustrated in
The containers 30 each have an inner sidewall 32, an outer sidewall 34, and a top surface 35 adapted to, together, contain one of the plurality of fluids or other goods. The containers 30 are shaped such that they are stackable and/or nestable (“stack/nest”) within the receptacle 12 such that the inner sidewalls 32 of the containers 30 abut each other, and the outer sidewalls 34 abut the inner surface 16 of the receptacle 12, completely filling substantially all of the receptacle 12. For purposes of this application, the term “completely filling” means to fill all of the available space that is practical, as with a tessellation, but allowing for ordinary spacing that is reasonable for such containers, not requiring an airtight, high tolerance fit.
The top surface 35 includes a spout 66 sealable with a cap 40 such that the storage container 30 is adapted to completely enclose and seal one of the plurality of fluids or other goods or products within the storage container 30 when the cap 40 is engaged with the spout 66. It is important that the storage container 30 form an air/fluid tight seal to prevent the fluid or other goods from escaping the container 30, and also to prevent the fluid or other goods from drying out or exposure to air. The cap 40 may threadedly engage the spout 66, snap fit onto the spout 66, or otherwise engage the spout 66 to form an air/fluid tight seal. The spout 66 is preferably large enough to receive a brush, scoop, or other item to be inserted into the container 30 for removing the fluid or other material. The inner wall of spout 66 may also be used for removing excess material off items inserted into the container 30. The inner wall of spout 66 may also include an integral pour spout (not shown) for facilitating pouring of the material from the container 30. In an alternative embodiment, the spout may extend from the bottom side of the container, like a tea pot (not illustrated), or may be positioned so that gravity will drain the container when the cap is removed (not illustrated) or when a valve (not shown) is opened.
The cap 40 may also include a flip-up dispenser (not shown) that can be flipped up to enable the fluid or other goods to be dispensed through the cap 40.
As shown in
While one embodiment is illustrated in
The containers 30 may be standard sized units of about 1 gallon, half gallon, quart, and potentially even pint (or standard metric units), although the invention is not restricted to any particular units. As is known in the art, measurement markings (not illustrated) may be marked on the side of each of the containers 30.
The containers 30 are preferably constructed with a material such as plastic, although any suitable material may be utilized. In some embodiments, the containers 30 are preferably constructed of a material that is UV protected and/or FDA approved. The containers 30 may 10 each include a flexible liner (not shown), or other ancillary features, and such alternatives should be considered within the scope of the present invention. The containers 30 may also have an external surface that is smooth, textured, or having a surface design. In another embodiment, the containers 30 may be constructed with a flexible and pliable wall.
The storage system 10 may further include a receptacle lid 20 that is adapted to engage the receptacle perimeter 18 for closing the receptacle 12 and holding the containers 30 inside. As shown in
As shown in
In the currently preferred embodiment, the fluids or other goods are preferably different colors or types of paints, and/or associated fluids, such as turpentine. For example, the storage system 10 may also be used for storing extra paint. When a home is painted, it is useful to have extra paint of each type used in the house. Once the home is painted, the extra paint can be poured into the containers 12 using the funnel 60, and stored in one place for future use.
The storage system 10 may also be used to package a paint kit for a specific project, such as repainting a room. In this embodiment, the system 10 may include two larger containers 45 of white paint for painting a house, a room, a piece of furniture, or other item. The larger containers 45 have a larger height HL that is approximately equal to a receptacle height HR of the receptacle 12, only preferably slightly smaller so that the larger containers 45 fit within the receptacle 12. The system 10 also includes smaller containers, in this embodiment two medium containers 46 (having a medium height HM) and three small containers 47 (having a smaller height HS). The smaller containers 46 and the medium containers 47 are stackable or nestable, so that the sum of the heights HM or HS of the smaller containers 46 or medium containers 47 are equal to the larger height HL of the larger container 25.
The small and medium containers 47 and 46 are adapted to either stack upon or nest into each other to the larger height HL equal to the larger container 45, thereby enabling the containers 45, 46, and 47, to form a single solid unit that fits securely within the receptacle 12. The two larger containers 45 and the stacks of the small and medium containers 47 and 46 all tessellate, side by side and abutting each other within the receptacle 12, completely filling substantially all of the receptacle 12 (as illustrated in
In one embodiment, the two medium containers 46 may include a bright blue trim, and three small containers 47 may include assorted other fluids. For example, one of the small containers 47 may have a bright yellow trim that is intended to compliment the blue and white. The containers 45, 46, and 47, may initially be sold with an un-tinted paint that may be tinted at a later time, so that the user may select any combination of colors. Yet another of the small containers 47 might alternatively contain turpentine, and the third small container 47 might include another fluid useful for painting. In alternative embodiments, however, the fluids may be any other fluids or products that a user may want to store, preferably fluids that are stored together such that the fluids are associated with each other.
While one embodiment of the containers 30 is illustrated herein, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention also includes alternative embodiments. In alternative embodiments, the containers may vary tremendously in size, shape, and configuration. For example, the containers may be much smaller when adapted for use with storing fluids that are stored in very small quantities, and they may be much larger in cases where the fluids are stored in very large quantities. Furthermore, while storing fluids is preferred, the containers may be adapted to store food, dry goods, and any other materials and/or items. For purposes of this application, the term fluid is hereby defined to include such alternative materials and/or items.
In one embodiment, the containers 30 may include a textured or smooth area (not illustrated) that is adapted to be written upon, or a shaped area (not illustrated) for receiving a label. This feature is useful for assisting a user in labeling a container 30.
In the embodiment of
In an alternative embodiment, not illustrated, the pump may also be integrated into the cap or the container, either a one-way valve that can be used to pump or squeeze air out of the container, or a portion of the cap or container that pops up/down to create/release a partial vacuum.
In this embodiment, the system 68 preferably includes a plurality of wheels 80 operably attached to the receptacle 12 for supporting the receptacle 12 for rotary motion. While wheels 80 are not typically included in paint buckets used in the prior art, they are useful in assisting users with moving the system 68 when they are heavy with a fluid such as paint. While one particular embodiment of the wheels 80 is illustrated, those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of wheels, with different sizes, numbers, and configurations, may be used, and such alternatives should be considered within the scope of the present invention.
As shown in
In the alternative embodiment, at least one of the plurality of containers 30 may include inner and outer sidewalls 32 and 34 that are collapsible such that the top sidewall 35 and a bottom sidewall 37 of the container 30 can be collapsed towards each other, thereby adjusting the volume of the container 30. The top sidewall 35 and the bottom sidewall 37 may also be made similarly collapsible.
The containers 30 may be constructed of a transparent plastic, or from any other suitable material. If the container 30 is constructed of a non-transparent material, it may include a transparent portion 44 enabling visual observation and measurement of the amount or type of the fluid remaining within the container 30.
The system 10 may also include a receptacle handle 82 pivotally mounted on the receptacle 12, as illustrated in
The terminology used in the present application includes not only the specific words utilized, but also includes similar or equivalent words, and derivatives thereof. Additionally, the words “a,” “an,” and “one” are defined to include one or more of the referenced item unless specifically stated otherwise. Also, the terms “have,” “include,” “contain,” and similar terms are defined to mean “comprising” unless specifically stated otherwise.
While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.
