WO2010084309A1

WO2010084309A1 - Container interlocking system

Info

Publication number: WO2010084309A1
Application number: PCT/GB2010/000081
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kevin Brown
Original assignee: Kevin Brown
Priority date: 2009-01-20
Filing date: 2010-01-20
Publication date: 2010-07-29
Also published as: GB0900928D0; GB2467016B; GB2467016A

Abstract

A container interlocking system is disclosed for stacking and interlocking at least first and second containers (1, 20). The first container (1) has handles (6) which may be folded over the top (4) of the first container (1) so as to carry the container (1) with one hand, when no other container (20) is stacked on top of it. When the second container (20) is stacked on the first container 1, the handles (6) are then used to lock the two container (1, 20) together.

Description

CONTAINER INTERLOCKING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a system for stacking and interlocking a plurality of containers .

Container systems are known which are configured to stack a plurality of containers one on top the other. Each container may have a handle on its lid for carrying it. The plurality of containers may be locked together with clasps arranged at the side walls of the containers .

It is desired to provide an improved container stacking system: Therefore, from a first aspect the present invention provides a container stacking system comprising at least first and second containers configured to be stacked one on top of the other. The first container has handles, which are preferably connected to its side walls, for carrying it when it is not stacked with other containers . The second container and the handles of the first container are arranged and configured so that when the second container is stacked adjacent the first container the handles are releasably engagable with the second container in order to lock the two containers together .

The system according to the present invention enables the handles of the first container to perform two functions. Firstly, the handles may be used to carry the first container by itself. Secondly, the handles can be used to lock the first and second containers together in order to store them or to carry the two containers together more easily.

Preferably, each container has side walls, a base wall and a top face. The top face may be open or have an opening therein. In other embodiments the top face has a removable lid so that it is openable. The handles on the containers are preferably arranged and configured such that when the container is carried by the handles the top face is arranged facing upwards . The present invention is particularly useful for carrying tools, since different sized or categories of tools may be carried in the different containers . Therefore, a preferred embodiment relates to a container system, wherein the containers hold tools. The different containers of the present invention may have different containments volumes for storing different objects. Furthermore, the containers may have different colours in order to identify their contents more easily. According to the preferred embodiments, each handle of the first container has a first end directly connected to the first container and a second end for carrying the first container. The handles are preferably rotatable relative to the walls of the first container and about the first ends of the handles. In the preferred embodiments the handles are , arranged on the outer side walls of the container. Preferably, the handles extend from opposite side walls of the container. The handles are preferably connected to the first container at the tops of the walls .

In the preferred embodiments, the handles are arranged and configured so as to be able to extend in a direction towards each other across the top of the first container, when no container is stacked on top of it. This allows the first container to be easily carried by the handles . Preferably, the handles are arranged and configured such that they may be gripped by a single hand in order to carry the first container. As such, according to the preferred embodiments the handles are ' arranged and configured so that they are able to extend towards each other such that their free ends are separated from each other by a distance of: < 15 cm; < 12 cm; < 10 cm; < 8 cm; < 6 cm; < 4 cm; or < 2 cm.

Preferably, each handle comprises a frame which is attached to the first container at one end and which may be gripped at . the other end for carrying the container . Each handle is preferably in the shape of a loop or hook, or at least comprises a loop or hooked portion at the end for carrying the container. In less preferred embodiments the handles may be other shapes . For example, each of the handles may have a T-shape at the end for carrying the container.

In particularly preferred embodiments, each handle has a first frame portion that is attached to the first container by a rotatable connection at a first end of the handle. Each handle also has a second frame portion that is rotatably connected to the first frame portion, preferably at the opposite side of the first frame portion to the side at which the first frame portion is connected to the container. The second frame portion extends from the first frame portion to a second end of the handle.

Preferably, the first frame portion is arranged and configured such that it may be rotated relative to the container and to a position where the rotatable connection between the first and second frame portions is above the top face of the first container. The second frame portion is preferably rotatable relative to the first frame portion such that the second frame portions of the handles may be rotated so as to extend towards each other across the top of the container in order to carry the container by the second frame portions . In other embodiments each handle comprises three frame portions. In these embodiments, each handle has a first frame portion that is attached to the container by a rotatable connection at a first end of the handle. Each handle has a second frame portion that is rotatably connected to the first frame portion at an opposite side of the first frame portion to the side at which the first frame portion is connected to the first container. Each handle has a third frame portion which is rotatably connected to the second frame portion and which extends to -a second opposite end of the handle. The third frame portion is preferably connected to the second frame portion at the opposite side of the second frame portion to the side at which the first frame portion is connected. Preferably, the first frame portion is arranged and configured such that it may be rotated relative to the container and to a position where the rotatable connection between the first and second frame portions is above the container. The second frame portion is preferably rotatable relative to the first frame portion such that the second frame portions of the handles may be rotated so as to extend towards each other across the top of ^'the container. The third frame portions are preferably rotatable relative to the second frame portions so that the third frame portions may extend upwards away from the container in order to carry the container by the third frame portions .

A less preferred embodiment is contemplated herein wherein each handle consists of a single frame portion. In this embodiment the handles may be connected to the first container at the top edge of the container so that the handles can rotate to extend across the top of the container so as to facilitate the carrying of the container. Other embodiments are also contemplated wherein each handle comprises more that three rotatably interconnected frame portions . It will be appreciated that the different handle frame portions may have the same or different sizes, lengths and widths. For example, the second frame portion may be longer and wider than the first frame portion. In the embodiments wherein each handle has three frame portions, the first and third frame portions may be the same size and shape and. may be of a different size and shape to the second frame portion.

In a preferred embodiment, one or more of the frame portions is curved in a plane perpendicular to the wall to which the handle is connected. Preferably, at least the second frame portion is curved.

Preferably, the second container has engagement members for engaging the handles of the first container in order to interlock the two containers when they are stacked together. The engagement members of the second container and the handles of the first container are configured to engage each other when the two containers are stacked adjacent each other such that when the second container is lifted the first container is lifted with the second container. Preferably, the engagement members each comprise a portion for receiving one of the handles of the first container so as to interlock the two containers . The engagement members preferably each comprise a recess for receiving a portion of one of the handles of the first container so as to interlock the two containers . According to one embodiment , the engagement members are brackets over which the handles clip in order to interlock the two containers .

Less preferably, the engagement members may simply be protrusions which the handles latch over. Other embodiments are also contemplated wherein the engagement members are clips into which the handles are clipped into. In other embodiments the engagement members may be hooks and the handles are configured to hook over the engagement members in order to interlock the containers . The handles of the first container are preferably located at the upper portion of the sides walls of the first container and the engagement members are preferably located at the lower portion of the side walls of the second container.

As previously described, according to preferred embodiments, each of the handles may comprise two or three frame portions. In these embodiments, the second container and the handles of the first container may be arranged and configured so that when the second container is stacked adjacent the first container, the second frame portions are releasably engagable with the second container for locking the two containers together . Preferably, the containers and handles are arranged and configured such that when the second frame portions are engaged^' with the engagement members on the second container, the first frame portions are rotatable downwards away from the second container so as to pull the second frame portions into firmer engagement with the engagement members . The containers are preferably configured such that the first frame portions are rotatable to positions wherein the second container is pulled against the first container by the second frame portions so as to lock the two containers together even when the second container is lifted in a direction extending from the first container to the second container. Preferably, each of the first frame portions is rotatable to a position extending away from the second container and against a side wall of the first container. The first frame portions may be rotatable to a position wherein the plane of the first frame portion is coincident with the plane of the second frame portion. In a preferred embodiment, each first frame portion is rotatable so that the interconnection between the first end of the handle and the container is arranged between the second end of the handle and the rotatable connection between the first and second frame portions . These embodiments apply to the arrangements wherein each handle has two or three frame portions . In the embodiments where each handle has there frame portions, the second container and the handles of the first container may be arranged and configured so that when the second container is stacked adjacent the first container, the third frame portions are releasably engagable with the second container for locking the two containers together. The first frame portions of the handles are preferably arranged and configured to be rotatable so as to interlock the two containers as described above. In this embodiment the third frame portion does not have a role in interlocking the two containers .

As mentioned previously, ^' the first and/or second container preferably has a base wall and an open face opposite the base wall. The first and/or second container may have a removable lid covering the open face. In embodiments wherein the first container has a lid, the handles of the first container may be provided on the sides of the lid of the first container.

Preferably, the two containers are configured to be interlocked with the open face of one container adjacent the base wall of the other container. However, the containers may also be arranged and configured so that the two containers can be interlocked with their open faces adjacent one another so as to form an enclosure inside of the two containers. In this configuration, the containers do not have lids. The, second container preferably has engagement members on the side walls adjacent to its open face for engaging the handles of the first container. This arrangement has the advantage that the interlocked containers form a combined enclosure that is larger than the individual containers so as to contain larger objects, such as large tools.

Preferably, the second container comprises handles arranged and configured for carrying the second container when it is not stacked with other containers and/or for carrying the two containers when they are interlocked. The handles of the second container preferably correspond to those described above in relation to the handles of the first container. In this respect, it will be appreciated that any description of the handles of the first container with respect to the second container (for example, when the handles are described as interlocking with the second container) corresponds to the features of the handles of the second container defined in relation to a third container stacked on the second container.

Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment the stacking system further comprises a third container configured to be stacked adjacent the second container so that the second container is arranged between the first and third containers.

Preferably, the second container has handles connected to its side walls for carrying it when it is not stacked with the third container, and wherein the third container and the handles on the second container are arranged and configured so that when the third container is stacked adjacent the second container the handles of the second container are releasably engagable with the third container in order to lock the second and third containers together. Preferably, the handles of the second container interlock with the third container in the same manner as described above in relation to the manner in which the handles of the first container interlock with the second container .^■ In less preferred embodiments the second and third containers may interlock in another way, i.e. not using the handles of the containers.- Preferably, the third container comprises handles arranged and configured for carrying the third container alone when it is not stacked with any other containers and/or for carrying the second and third containers when they are interlocked and/or for carrying the first, second and third containers when they are interlocked. The handles of the third container preferably correspond to those described above in relation to the handles of the first container. In this respect, it will be appreciated that the description of the handles of the first container with respect to the second container correspond to the features of the handles of the third container defined in relation to a fourth container stacked on the third container. It is therefore also contemplated herein that four or more containers may be stacked and interlocked using the handles on the containers in a corresponding manner to that described above. The handles would also enable the containers to be carried separately or collectively as described above.

It is also contemplated that each of the containers in the stack may have any one or combination of the features of the first container described above.

A less preferred embodiment is also contemplated wherein a container is stacked between the first and second containers and the three containers are interlocked by the handles of the first container engaging the second container.

Accordingly, the present invention also provides a stacking system as claimed in claim 23.

According to this less preferred embodiment, fourth or further containers may be stacked between the first and second containers, which are all interlocked by the handles of the first container engaging the second container .

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the following drawings, in which:

Fig. IA shows a side view of a container with handles according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. IB shows a different view of the container of Fig. IA with the handles in a position for carrying the container;

Fig. 1C shows two stacked containers with the handles of the lower container arranged so as to lock to the upper container;

Fig. ID shows a cross-sectional view through a portion of the two stacked containers of Fig. 1C and shows the brackets at which the handles interlock the containers ; Fig. 2A shows a container with handles according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2B shows the container of Fig. 2A from a different view and with the handles in a position for carrying the container; Fig. 2C shows three interlocked containers having handles as shown in Figs. 2A and 2B;

Fig. 3 shows two interlocked containers according to another embodiment of the invention;^' and

Figs. 4A-4C show a plan view and two different side views of a container of a preferred embodiment.

Figs. IA and IB show a single container 1 according to an embodiment of the invention from different side views . The container has four sides, a base 2, a top 4 and two handles 6 arranged on opposite sides 5 of the container 1 for carrying the container 1. Fig. IA shows one of the handles 6 in a position for locking the container 1 to another container (not shown) and Fig. IB shows the handles 6 in a position for carrying the container 1. Each handle 6 has a first frame portion 6a which is directly connected to the container 1 and a second frame portion 6b which is connected to the first frame portion 6a on the opposite side of the first frame portion 6a to the side of the first frame portion 6a that is directly connected to the container 1.

The first frame portion 6a is rotatably connected to a bracket portion 8 of the container 1 that is arranged adjacent to the top edge 4 of the container 1. The first frame portion 6a is able to rotate relative to the container 1. The first frame portion 6a is rotatable between a position where it extends downwards from the bracket 8 and lies adjacent to the side wall 5 of the container 1 to which it is connected, shown in

Fig. IA,^' and a position where the first frame 6a extends above the top 4 of the container 1, as shown in Fig. IB. The second frame portion 6b is connected to the side of the first frame portion 6a that is not directly connected to the container 1 and such that the second frame portion 6b may rotate relative to the first frame , portion 6a, This allows the handles 6 to be folded towards each other over the top of the container 1, as is shown in Fig. IB, such that the container 1 can be carried by the handles 6 using a single hand. The first and second frame portions 6a, 6b of the handles 6 can also be folded downwards along the outer sides 5 of the container 1 when it is desired to access the container 1.

Fig. 1C shows the container 1 once a second container 20 has been stacked on top of it and locked to it using the handles 6 of the lower container 1, as will be described with reference to Figs. IA and IB. The handles 6 of the first container 1 are folded down against the outer sides 5 of the first container 1. That is, the first frame portions 6a extend downwards against the sides 5 of the container 1 and the second frame portions 6b extend downwards from the first frame portions 6a. A second container 20 is then placed on top of the first container 1. The top 4 of the first, lower container 1 and the base 22 of the second, upper container 20 may be configured to engage each other at their interface, e.g. by receiving a lip projecting from the base 22 of the top container 20 around a lip 7 extending around the top 4 of the lower container 1. The top container 20 has brackets 24 on opposite side walls 25. The brackets 24 are arranged adjacent to the base wall 22 and at locations to be engaged by the handles 6 of the lower container 1.

Fig. ID shows a cross-section through one side of the upper and lower stacked containers 1,20 at the location of the brackets 8,24. The bracket 8 on the upper side wall 5 of the lower container 1 has a channel 16 in which the first frame portion 6a of a handle 6 is rotatably connected to the lower container 1. The bracket 24 on the lower side wall 25 of the upper container 20 has a recess 28 for receiving the second frame portion 6b of the handle 6 of the lower container 1 when the containers 1,20 are to be interlocked. Referring to Pigs. IA to ID, once the second container 20 has been arranged on top of the first container 1 the handles 6 of the first container 1 are rotated relative to the first container 1 and such that the distal free end of each handle 6 is arranged in the recess 28 of a bracket 24 on the upper container 20. The first frame portion 6a of each handle 6 is then rotated downwards relative to the containers 1,20 and against the outer side wall 5 of ^"the lower container 1, thus drawing the second frame portions 6b also downwards and against the side walls 5,25 of the containers 1,20. This rotation causes the second frame portions 6b to be firmly engaged with the recesses 28 in the brackets 24 on the top container 20, as shown in Fig. 1C. The brackets 8,24 and handles 6 are arranged and configured such that when the handles 6 are in this configuration the upper container 20 cannot be lifted upwards relative to the lower container 1. In order to release the two containers 1,20 from each other the first frame portion 6a of each handle 6 is rotated outwards and upwards, thereby allowing the second frame portions ^■ 6b to move upwards and out of the recesses 28 in the brackets 24 on the upper container 20.

In a preferred embodiment (not shown) , the upper container 20 also includes handles corresponding to those on the lower container 1. The handles on the upper container 20 enable the two interlocked containers 1,20 to be carried using a single hand. The handles on the second, upper container 20 may also be used to interlock the second container 20 with a third container that is stacked on top of the second container 20 in the same manner that has been described above with regard to interlocking the first and second containers 1,20. The third container may also have handles so as to enable the three interlocked containers to be carried by these handles . The handles on the third container may also be interlocked with a fourth container stacked on top of the third container in a similar manner to that described above with reference to the first and second containers 1,20. It will be' appreciated that any number of containers can be interlocked and carried using the handles on the containers .

Figs . 2A-2C show a further embodiment of the present invention, which is the same as the embodiment described in relation to the previous figures, except that the handles 6 each have three frame portions 6a,6b,βc. As in the previously described embodiment, each of the handles 6,26,36 on each container 1,20,30 comprises a first frame portion 6a, 26a, 36a that is directly connected to the container 1,20,30 in a rotatable manner and a second frame portion 6b, 26b, 36b that is rotatably connected to the first frame portion

6a, 26a, 36a. However, each handle 6,26,36 also comprises a third frame portion 6c, 26c, 36c that is rotatably connected to the second frame portion 6b, 26b, 36b at an opposite side of the second frame portion 6b, 26b, 36b to ^• the side at which the first frame portion 6a, 26a, 36a is connected to it.

As shown in Fig. 2B in order to carry the container the first frame portions 6a of the handles 6 are rotated upwards so as to extend past the top edge 4 of the container 1. The second frame portions 6b of the handles 6 are then folded over the top 4 of the container 1 so as to extend towards each other over the top 4 of the container 1. The third frame portions 6c of the handles 6 may also extend towards each other as shown or may be rotated relative to the second frame portions 6b so as to extend upwards from the second frame portions 6b. As such, the third frame portions 6c may be gripped by a single hand in order to carry the container 1.

Fig. 2C shows three stacked containers 1,20,30 of the type shown in Figs. 2A and 2B. The containers 1,20,30 are interlocked by the handles 6,26 of the bottom and middle containers 1,20 engaging brackets 24,34 on the middle and top containers 20,30 respectively. The handles 6,26 of the containers 1,20 are used to interlock adjacent containers 1,20,30 in substantially the same manner as described above with respect to Figs. IA-ID. However, in this embodiment the third frame portions 6c of the handles 6 of the bottom container 1 engage with the recesses 18 in the brackets 24 on the lower side wall 25 of the middle container 20, rather than the second frame portions 6b engaging the recesses 18. Similarly, the third frame portions 26c of the handles 26 of the middle container 20 engage the recesses 18 in the brackets 34 on the lower side walls 35 of the top container 30. The three interlocked containers 1,20,30 may be carried by the handles 36 on the uppermost container 30 in the same way as has been shown and described with reference to the single container shown in Fig. 2B. Also, further containers may be stacked on top of the third container 30 and interlocked using their handles .

Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention that the same as that shown and described in relation to Figs . IA-ID, except that in this embodiment the handles 6 each comprise a third frame portion 6c that is rotatably connected to the second frame portion 6b at an opposite side of the second frame portion 6b to that which the first frame portion 6a is connected to. This third frame portion 6c is useful when the handles 6 are used for carrying the container 1. In particular, in order to carry the container 1 the first frame portions 6a of the handles 6 on the container 1 are rotated upwards so as to extend past the top edge 4 of the container 1. The second portions 6b of the handles 6 are then folded over the top 4 of the container 1 so as to extend towards each other over the top 4 of the container 1. The third frame portions 6c of the handles 6 may then be rotated so as to extend upwards from the second frame portions 6b. As such, the third frame portions 6c may be gripped by a single hand in order to carry the container 1. In other words, the handles 6 may be operated in a similar manner shown and described with reference to Fig. 2B in order to carry the container 1.

Referring back to Fig. 3, the top container 20 in the stack may have handles corresponding to those on the lower container 1 for carrying the interlocked containers 1,20. Also, more than two containers may be stacked and interlocked using these types of handles . Although all of the above embodiments have been described in the context of stacking the base 22 of an upper container 20 on the open top 4 of a lower container 1 and interlocking the containers 1,20, it is also envisaged that the top 4 of one or more of the containers in the stacked containers 1,20 could have a removable lid covering the tops 4 of the containers 1,20.

Furthermore, further embodiments are contemplated wherein the open top 23 of an upper container 20 may be stacked adjacent an open top 4 of a lower container 1 so as to define a relatively large enclosure within the upper and lower containers 1,20. This is particularly beneficial, for example, for transporting large tools which may not fit within a single container. These embodiments are substantially the same as those described above, except that the handles 6 of the lower container 1 may engage different brackets 28 on the upper container 20. These different brackets may be provided on the walls 25 of the upper container 20 adjacent to the open face 23 of the container, i.e. adjacent to the interface between the two containers 1,20 when stacked open-face 4 to open-face 23.

For example, referring to Fig. 1C or Fig. 3, the upper container 20 would be rotated so that the open face 23 of the upper container 20 is adjacent the open face 4 of the lower container 1 and such that brackets 8 of the lower container are adjacent brackets 28 of the upper container 20. Each of brackets 28 of the upper container 20 has a recess in the side facing away from the open face 23 of the upper container 20 and for receiving the handle 6 of the lower container 1 in a corresponding manner to that described above with reference to Fig. 1C or Fig. 3. In these embodiments the sides 25 of the upper container 20 adjacent to the closed base portion 22 of the upper container 20 may be provided with handles for carrying the interconnected containers 1,20 or for interlocking the closed base 22 of- the upper container 20 with a further container stacked on top of the upper container 20.

Similarly, the middle container 20 in Fig. 2C may be rotated so that it has an open face 23 adjacent an open face 4 of the bottom container 1 and a base 22 adjacent the base 32 of the top container 30. In this arrangement the brackets 24,28 and handles 26 of the middle container 20 are configured so that they would appear the same as those shown in Fig. 2C, even though the middle container 20 has been rotated upside-down. In other words, the handles 26 of the middle container 20 are provided on brackets adjacent to the base of the middle container 20 rather than adjacent to the open face of the middle container. Figs. 4A-4C show a plan view and two different side views, respectively, of a container 20 of a preferred embodiment, except without the handles 26. As can be seen, the container 20 may include one or .more slots 40,42 arranged in the side walls. These slots 42 may be used to attach the ends of a strap so as to carry the container 20 by a strap. The slots 40 may also be slid over hooks on a wall, for example the inner wall of .a vehicle, so as to mount the container 20 to the wall temporarily. Various embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, it will be appreciated that modifications may be made to these embodiments whilst still falling within the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims appended hereto. For example, although the brackets which the handles extend from and which the handles attach to have been described as being separate brackets at the top and bottom of the containers , they may be arranged to be spaced apart from the top and bottom edges of the containers .

It is^' also contemplated that a single bracket may be provided on each of two opposite sides of each container. A handle of that container may extend from each bracket for carrying the container or for connecting the container to an upper container stacked on top of it. The same bracket may also receive a handle of a lower container on which it is stacked.

Alternatively, the bracket may receive first and second handles of upper and lower containers respectively when three containers are interlocked. In these embodiments the bracket is preferably located half way up the side wall of the container.

Claims

Claims :

1. A container stacking system comprising at least first and second containers configured to be stacked one on top of the other, wherein said first container has handles for carrying it when it is not stacked with other containers , and wherein the handles and the second container are arranged and configured so that when the second container is stacked adjacent the first container the handles are releasably engagable with the second - container in order to lock the two containers together.

2. A container stacking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each handle has a first end connected to said first container and a second end for carrying said first container, and wherein the second ends of the handles are rotatable relative to the walls of said first container .

3. A container stacking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the handles are arranged and configured so as to be able to extend in a direction towards each other across the top of the first container when no container is stacked on top of it and so that the first container can be carried by the handles .

4. A container stacking system' as claimed in claim 3, wherein the handles extend towards each other such that they may be gripped by a single hand in order to carry the first container.

5. A container stacking system as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the handles are arranged and configured to be able to extend towards each other such that they are separated from each other at their free ends by a distance of: < 15 cm; < 12 .cm,- < 10 cm; < 8 cm; < 6 cm; < 4 cm; or < 2 cm.

6. A container stacking system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second container has engagement members for engaging the handles of the first container in order to interlock the two containers .

7. A container stacking system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the engagement members are brackets over which the handles are arranged in order to interlock the two containers .

8. A container stacking system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each handle comprises a frame which is attached to the first container at one end and which may be gripped at the other end for carrying the first container.

9. A container stacking system as claimed in claim 8, wherein each handle has a first frame portion that is attached to the first container by a rotatable connection at a first end of the handle and a second frame portion that is rotatably connected to the first frame portion and which extends to a second opposite end of the handle.

10. A container stacking system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first frame portion is arranged and •configured such that it may be rotated relative to the first container to a position where the rotatable connection between the first and second frame portions is above the first container, and wherein the second frame portion is rotatable relative to the first frame portion such that the second frame portions of the handles may be rotated so as to extend towards each other across the top of the first container in order to carry the first container by the second frame portions.

11. A container stacking system as claimed in claim 8, wherein each handle has a first frame portion that is attached to the first container by a rotatable connection at a first end of the handle, a second frame portion that is rotatably connected to the first frame portion, and a third frame portion which is rotatably connected to the second frame portion and which extends to a second opposite end of the handle.

12. A container stacking system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first frame portion is arranged and configured such that it may be rotated relative to the first container and to a position where the rotatable connection between the first and second frame portions is above the first container, wherein the second frame portion is rotatable relative to the first frame portion such that the second frame portions of the handles may be rotated so as to extend towards each other across the top of the first container, and wherein the third frame portions are rotatable relative to the second frame portions so that the third frame portions may extend upwards away from the first container in order to carry the first container by the third frame portions.

13. A container stacking system as claimed in any one of claims 9-12, wherein the handles are arranged and configured so that when the second container is stacked adjacent the first container, the second frame portions are releasably engagable with the second container for locking the two containers together.

14. A container stacking system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the containers and handles are arranged and configured such that the second frame portions are engagable with engagement members on the second container, and such that the first frame portions are rotatable away from the second container so as to pull the second frame portions into firmer engagement with the' engagement members .

15. A container stacking system as claimed in claim 11 or 12 , wherein the handles are arranged and configured so that when the second container is stacked adjacent the first container, the third frame portions are releasably engagable with the second container for locking the two containers together.

16. A container stacking system as claimed in claim 11, 12 or 15, wherein the containers and handles are arranged and configured such that the third frame portions are engagable with engagement members on the second container, and such that the first frame portions are rotatable away from the second container so as to pull the third frame portions into firmer engagement with the engagement members .

17. A container stacking system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each of the first and second containers has a base and an openable face opposite the ^■ base, and wherein the two containers are configured to be interlocked with the open face of one container adjacent the base of the other container.

18. A container stacking system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first container has an open face and the second container has an open face, and wherein the two containers are configured to be interlocked with the open faces adjacent one another so as to form an enclosure inside of the two containers.

19. A container stacking system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second container comprises handles arranged and configured for carrying the second container alone and/or for carrying the two containers when they are interlocked.

20. A container stacking system as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a third container configured to be stacked adjacent the second container so that the second container is arranged between the first and third containers.

21. A container stacking system as claimed in claim 20, wherein said second container has handles for carrying it when it is not stacked with the third container, and wherein the third container and the handles on the second container are arranged and configured so that when the third container is stacked adjacent the second container the handles of the second container are releasably engagable with the third container in order to lock the second and third containers together .

22. A container stacking system as claimed in claim 20or 21, wherein the third container comprises handles arranged and configured for carrying the third container alone and/or for carrying the second and third containers when they are interlocked and/or for carrying the first, second and third containers .when they are interlocked.

23. A container stacking system comprising at least first, second and third containers configured to be stacked such that the third container is arranged between the first and second .containers, wherein said first container has handles connected to its walls for carrying it when it is not stacked with the other containers , and wherein the handles and the containers are arranged and configured such that when the containers are stacked the handles are releasably engagable with the second container in order to lock the three containers together .