US20060124648A1

US20060124648A1 - Storage container assembly

Info

Publication number: US20060124648A1
Application number: US11/009,721
Authority: US
Inventors: William Croft; Robert McRorie
Original assignee: Rubbermaid Inc
Current assignee: Rubbermaid Inc
Priority date: 2004-12-10
Filing date: 2004-12-10
Publication date: 2006-06-15

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for a storage container assembly having a primary container and a secondary container. The primary storage container having a primary base and a primary lid. A secondary storage container having a secondary base and a secondary lid. A snap fit mechanism is adapted to releasably connect the secondary storage container to the primary storage container. The primary lid may include a recessed cavity adapted to receive at least a portion of the secondary base therein when the secondary base is snap fitted to the primary lid.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a storage container, and more particularly to a pair of storage containers connected together.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage container assembly with a primary container and a secondary container in an assembled configuration;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the storage container assembly of FIG. 1 with the secondary container separated from the primary container;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the primary and secondary containers of FIG. 2 having their respective lids in an open configuration;
FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the storage container of FIG. 1 showing a snap fit mechanism operable for holding the secondary container and primary container in the assembled configuration;
FIG. 5 is an end view of the storage container of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 6 is a side view of the storage container of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

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.
Referring now to FIG. 1, one example of a storage container assembly 10 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, includes a primary storage container 12 and a secondary storage container 14 nested with and connected to the primary storage container 12. The secondary storage container 14 is positioned on top of the primary container 12 and in this example is smaller in size than the primary storage container 12. It should be understood that the secondary container may be larger than the primary container in alternate configurations. It should also be understood that the secondary container may be configured to connect to the primary container other than on top of the primary container.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the secondary storage container 14 can be separated from the primary storage container 12 in a manner that will be described in further detail below. The disclosed secondary storage container 14 has a pair of rounded end sections 16 a, 16 b and a pair of substantially linear, elongate side portions 18 a, 18 b. The primary storage container 12 can be similar in shape to the secondary storage container 14, as in this example. The primary storage container 12 has a pair of rounded end sections 20 a, 20 b and a pair of substantially linear, elongate side portions 22 a, 22 b. Alternatively, each storage container 12, 14 may have different shapes such as square, rectangular, or other geometric configurations as desired and need not be substantially similar in shape.
Referring now to FIG. 3, the primary container 12 includes a primary base 24 and a primary lid 26. A primary storage space 28 is created within the interior of the primary base 24 and primary lid 26 with the primary lid in the closed position shown in FIG. 2. When the primary lid 26 is in the open position of FIG. 3, the storage space 28 is accessible. Similarly, the secondary storage container 14 includes a secondary base 30 and a secondary lid 32. A secondary storage space 34 is created within the interior of the secondary base 30 and lid 32 when the secondary lid 32 is in the closed position as shown in FIG. 2. The secondary storage space 34 is accessible when the secondary lid 32 is in the open position of FIG. 3. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the primary lid 26 is completely separable from the primary base 24 while the secondary storage lid 32 is connected to the secondary storage base 30 with a living hinge 36 along the elongate side portion 18 a. It should be understood that either lid 26, 32 may be connected to their respective bases 24, 30 by a hinge, or may be completely separable.
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 FIG. 4) is provided to releasably connect the secondary storage container 14 to the primary storage container 12. The disclosed example of the snap fit mechanism 50 includes four protrusions 52. The protrusions 52 are arranged such that two are positioned spaced apart along each side 22 a, 22 b of the perimeter wall 46. The protrusions 52 are operable for resiliently engaging or snapping into complimentary receptacles 54 formed in the secondary base 30 of the secondary container 14. The protrusions 52 are snapped into the corresponding receptacles 54 when the secondary base 30 is positioned within the recessed cavity 40 of the primary lid 26.
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.
FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the disclosed storage container assembly 10 more clearly depicting the snap fit mechanism 50. The secondary base 30 is nested within the recessed cavity 40 of the primary lid 26. Each protrusion 52 of the primary lid 26 extends into a corresponding receptacle 54 of the secondary base 54 to hold the secondary container 14 in a fixed position relative to the primary container 12. A distance D1 between the protrusions 52 must necessarily be less than the distance D2 between opposing side walls 86 a, 86 b of the secondary base 30 to prevent the secondary container 14 from inadvertently separating. As the secondary base 30 is pushed down over the protrusions 52, the protrusions 52 are resiliently displaced outward as they slide past the side walls 86 a, 86 b. Once the protrusions 52 align with their corresponding receptacles 54 of the secondary base 32, the protrusions 52 will resiliently snap into the receptacles 54 and thus hold the secondary container 14 in a snap fit manner to the primary container 12.
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 86 a, 86 b of the secondary base 30, the sidewalls 86 a, 86 b 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 FIG. 3) of the base 24. In a similar manner, a tongue 70 formed around the perimeter 72 (see FIG. 3) of the secondary lid 32 engages with or seats in a groove 74 formed around a perimeter 76 of the secondary base 30.
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, an end view and a side view of the nestable container 10 are respectively illustrated. When the primary and secondary containers 12, 14 are nested together, the base 30 of the secondary container 14 rests below the top surface 42 of the primary container 12. In this manner, the bottom surface 90 of the secondary container 14 is at least partially positioned below the top surface 42 of the primary lid 26.
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.

Claims

1. A storage container assembly comprising:

a primary storage container including a primary base, a primary lid openable and closable relative to the primary base, and a primary storage space within the primary base and the primary lid when closed;

a secondary storage container including a secondary base, a secondary lid openable and closable relative to the secondary base, and a secondary storage space within the secondary base and the secondary lid when closed; and

a snap fit mechanism provided in part on the primary container and in part on the secondary container;

wherein the secondary storage container is snapped onto a portion of the primary storage container.

2. The nestable storage container of claim 1, wherein the snap fit mechanism includes a recessed cavity in a top surface of the primary lid, and wherein a portion of the secondary base is snapped into the recessed cavity.

3. The nestable storage container of claim 1, wherein the snap fit mechanism includes at least one protrusion projecting from a surface of the primary lid and at least one corresponding receptacle formed in a surface of the secondary base, each protrusion snapped into a corresponding receptacle.

4. The nestable storage container of claim 3, wherein the primary lid includes a pair of protrusions projecting inwardly from each of opposing elongate sides of a perimeter wall extending upwardly from the recessed cavity.

5. The nestable storage container of claim 4, wherein the secondary base includes a pair of receptacles recessed inwardly along each of opposing side walls; and

wherein each receptacle of the primary lid has a corresponding protrusion snapped therein.

6. The nestable storage container of claim 1, wherein the primary and secondary containers are made from a plastic material.

7. The nestable storage container of claim 6, wherein the plastic material is polypropylene or polyethylene.

8. The nestable storage container of claim 1, wherein the primary storage container includes at least one partition dividing the storage space into separate storage compartments.

9. The nestable storage container of claim 1, wherein the primary lid is completely separable from the primary base when the primary lid is opened.

10. The nestable storage container of claim 1, wherein the secondary lid is connected to the secondary base along a living hinge.

11. The nestable storage container of claim 1, wherein the secondary base has a smaller size than the primary lid such that the secondary base is constructed to snap into a recess of the primary lid.

12. The nestable storage container of claim 1, wherein the secondary base is elongate and large enough to hold a plurality of eating utensils.

13. A combination food and eating utensil storage container assembly comprising:

a food storage container having a base, a lid, and a food storage space within the base and lid when closed;

a recessed cavity formed in an exterior surface of the food storage container;

an eating utensil storage container having a utensil base, a utensil lid, and a utensil storage space within the utensil base and utensil lid when closed, a portion of the utensil storage container resting in the recessed cavity of the food storage container;

a plurality of protrusions extending from either a surface of the recessed cavity or from a surface of a portion of the utensil storage container;

a plurality of receptacles recessed into the other of the surface of the recessed cavity or the surface of the portion of the utensil storage container; and

wherein each protrusion is removably snapped into a corresponding one of the receptacles.

14. The storage container assembly of claim 13, wherein the protrusions are formed in the recessed cavity of the food container and the receptacles are formed in the utensil container.

15. The storage container assembly of claim 13, wherein the utensil lid is connected to the utensil base along a living hinge.

16. The storage container assembly of claim 13, wherein the food storage lid is completely separable from the food storage base when the food storage lid is opened.

17. The storage container assembly of claim 13, wherein the food storage lid includes a pair of protrusions projecting inwardly from each of opposing elongate sides of a perimeter wall extending upwardly from the recessed cavity.

18. The storage container of claim 13, wherein the utensil base includes a pair of receptacles recessed inwardly along each of opposing side walls; and

wherein each receptacle has a corresponding protrusion snapped therein.

19. The storage container of claim 13, wherein the food storage and utensil containers are made from a plastic material.

20. The storage container of claim 13, wherein the plastic material is polypropylene or polyethylene.