US3729114A

US3729114A - Container

Info

Publication number: US3729114A
Application number: US00067957A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Mari
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-09-02
Filing date: 1970-08-28
Publication date: 1973-04-24
Anticipated expiration: 1990-04-24

Abstract

A container is disclosed which essentially comprises two containing receptacles, the mouths of which are placed in opposite directions relative to a common axis of reference. The mouths have different widths so that one of them can accommodate larger objects, whereas the other can accommodate smaller objects, for example bunches of flowers and individual flower stalks. Plastics material is preferred for embodying the subject container.

Description

United States Patent Mari 45 1 Apr. 24, 1973 1 CONTAINER Dl67,667 9/1952 Babany ..220/20 x [76] [memo-r: Enzo Mari Piazzale Bamcca' Milan 2.611.499 9/1952 Mayer ..215/6 Italy FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS [22] Filed: Aug. 28, 1970 1.31 1.985 11/1962 France ..220/20 Appl. No 67,957

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 2, I969 Italy ..21562 A/69 52 us. c1. ..220/20 [51] Int. Cl. ..BoSd H24 [58] Field of Search ..220/20, 23.8; 2|5/6 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,519,034 12 1924 Livingston ..215/12 R Primary Examiner-Ge0rge E. Lowrance Allnrrwy-Cushman, Darby & Cushman A container is disclosed which essentially comprises two containing receptacles, the mouths of which are placed in opposite directions relative to a common axis of reference. The mouths have different widths so that one of them can accommodate larger objects, whereas the other can accommodate smaller objects, for example bunches of flowers and individual flower stalks. Plastics material is preferred for embodying the subject container.

ABSTRACT 2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patented April 24, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet l y 277/20 MZ/ Patented April 24, 1973 3,729,114

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y INVENTOR. ZZvza fl/Zze/ Patented April 24, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 j/ v 5742a $2 12 Patented April 24, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN'I'OR. ZVZQWRZ CONTAINER This invention relates to a container having two cavities, whose volumes and/or sizes are different.

It is known that in many fields, especially in the field of interior decoration, the need is felt of having a large number of containers available, whose kind and whose size are widely different from each other, the same being true of the internal dimensions of the containers: this is due to the necessity of fulfilling a variety of requirements which can occur with a considerable frequency and which cannot be forecast or preordained, either. An indicative example is that of flowers, whose bulk may vary widely according to the species,

and which are currently used for temporary interior decoration. Usually, in order that flowers may arranged in an aesthetically satisfactory manner, it is required that the current outfit comprise a set of pots having widely different shapes and volumes: this fact involves, in addition to a considerable first cost, also the shortcomings due to the bulk of the pots when these are not in use.

It has now been found, and this is the subject-matter of the present invention, that the drawbacks briefly outlined above can be substantially toned down by a container, which characterized in that it comprises two containing cavities having different volumes and/or linear dimensions, the mouths of these cavities being directed towards opposite directions and serving, alternately, as the bases and the tops of the container, respectively.

In the preferred embodiment, the container according to the present invention is embodied with a plastics material, and more particularly as an entity.

The basic advantage of the container according to current with an equally significant structural simplicity and sturdiness.

An equally significant advantage is the fact that it can be embodied by a moulded plastics article, a fact which involves the practicability of a commercially acceptable output.

A further advantage is that, within a certain range, the shape and/or the dimensions of the two containing cavities are not a function of the external shape of the container.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the container according to the present invention will become more clearly apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only and without limitation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective elevations of a first embodiment of the container according to the present invention in two possible positions.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2, and

FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are views, similar to those of FIGS. 1A, 1B of further embodiments of the container according to the present invention.

Having initially reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2 and 3, a flower pot is shown of the kind comprising a first cavity adapted to contain a bunch of flowers and a second cavity adapted to receive a single flower, such as a rose.

The container comprises an outer frustoconical casing 11, and a frustoconical body 15 internal of the former,

and which, in combination with two radial walls 12 and a bottom wall 16, defines a partially frustoconical inner cavity 14.

As can readily be seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the frustoconical body 15 is tapered in a direction opposite to that of the outer casing 11 and is closed at the lesser diameter end by a bottom- 17, whereas the larger diameter end is the mouth of the corresponding inner cavity 13. In addition, the same Figures clearly show that, when the container is in the position of FIG. 1A, that is the one adapted for the use of the smaller cavity 13, it does stably rest on the mouth of the larger cavity 14, and vice versa (FIG. 1B).

In FIGS. 1A and IE it can be clearly seen that the junctions between radial walls 12 and frustoconical outer casing 11 consist of a double bevel 18 having the purpose of concealing possible moulding shrinkages. In addition, inasmuch as the container is injection moulded as a single piece, it exhibits a slug 19 at the injection point.

The foregoing description was referred to the particular example of a flower pot, but it is apparent that other uses are possible, such as lamp stands and the like.

Having now reference to the FIGS. 4 to 7, in which 20 is the outer casing, 21 is the inner body of the easing, or a partition wall, 22 is the cavity having the larger dimensions and 23 is the smaller cavity, the features outlined above can be clearly appreciated.

Nevertheless, the possibility of manufacturing containers according to the present invention is not exhausted by the examples shown in the drawings, it being understood that all the embodiments which are ideally and structurally equivalent lie within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A container comprising two integrated relatively inverted frustoconical casings disposed one within the other, the inner casing being a complete frustoconical casing and the outer one being a partial frustoconical casing, the smaller ends of said casings being closed and each casing having different shaped cavities, the mouths of said cavities pointing in opposite directions and each cavity having a bottom wall laying in the plane defined by the mouth of the other cavity, the inner frustoconical casing tapering from the larger diameter mouth of the cavity to its closed end; the outer partial frustoconical casing including generally radial walls which connect with the inner casing, said partial frustoconical casing bottom wall and radial walls form a partial frustoconical cavity, the mouth of the outer cavity being a segmental opening larger than its opposite closed end.

2. A container as in claim 1 integrally molded of plastic material.

Claims

2. A container as in claim 1 integrally molded of plastic material.