WO2014153621A1 - Storing plastic containers and lids - Google Patents

Storing plastic containers and lids Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2014153621A1
WO2014153621A1 PCT/AU2014/000357 AU2014000357W WO2014153621A1 WO 2014153621 A1 WO2014153621 A1 WO 2014153621A1 AU 2014000357 W AU2014000357 W AU 2014000357W WO 2014153621 A1 WO2014153621 A1 WO 2014153621A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
container
storage
aide
base
lids
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU2014/000357
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Anthony TARANTO
Original Assignee
Taranto Anthony
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2013901042A external-priority patent/AU2013901042A0/en
Application filed by Taranto Anthony filed Critical Taranto Anthony
Publication of WO2014153621A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014153621A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D55/00Accessories for container closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D55/16Devices preventing loss of removable closure members

Definitions

  • This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for convenient storage of plastic containers, particularly rectangular shaped containers, but also round bowls and the like and their lids such as in kitchen drawers, cupboards or shelves.
  • Plastic containers are widely used in most kitchens, both domestic and commercial, for the convenient storage of food as closure of a container by its lid creates a sealed confinement for the food therein which can be stored and handled without fear of the contents being spilled or spoiled. Accordingly many kitchens have a wide array of containers of different shapes and sizes as well as containers for special purposes stored for use when required.
  • a frequent problem which is encountered is finding the right lid for a selected container and searching for an elusive lid which is known to be stored can cause time deiays and can create frustrations, especially in a busy kitchen.
  • Some of these containers are round but many are rectangular in varying sizes and configurations.
  • This invention in one aspect aims to provide a method of and apparatus for storing rectangular containers and their iids in a compact convenient configuration and whereby selection of a container and its matching lid may be more readily achieved.
  • This invention also aims to provide a method of and apparatus for storing round containers and their lids in a compact convenient configuration.
  • a storage aide for holding a container fid or a stack of container lids against the underside of a rectangular storage container
  • a storage aide for holding a container fid or a stack of container lids against the underside of a rectangular storage container
  • corner connections are provided at diagonally opposite corners of the container
  • an elasticaily stretchabie support assembly extending between the corner connections and including location means which locate about the opposed base corners of the container beneath said diagonally opposite comers so as to maintain the intermediate portion of the elasticail stretchabie support assembly extending substantially diagonally across the container beneath the base thereof .
  • the termination means may include an adjustable strap or frame or an elastic ring which may extend closely around an upper end of the container above a lid flange or the like protrusion adjacent the open end to provide the corner connections.
  • the termination means is a pair of opposed terminations each of which may be operativeiy retained at a respective opposing open comer of the open topped container to form the corner connections.
  • Each termination may be a terminating hook which may be hooked into the open corner of a container or each termination may be a latch, clip or other termination adapted to engage in a complementary corner formation in a container or each termination means may engage with a formation provided on the container for attaching the lid thereto.
  • each terminating hook is formed so as to positively locate over an open corner of the container.
  • the terminating hook is shaped to fit closely into the corner so as to maximise the internal diagonal dimension therebetween for accommodating a simitar size or relatively large container therebetween substantially within the container supporting the storage aide.
  • the elasticaily stretchabie support assembly may be formed of discrete components all or some of which may be elasticaily stretchabie by being formed of elasticaily stretchabie material or be te!escopicaliy expandable and biased to a contracted attitude by spring means or the elasticaily stretchabie support assembly may be formed in one-piece by moulding or fabrication from an elasticaily stretchable material such as rubber or other elastomeric material or the like and if desired different grades or thicknesses of materia! may be utilised at different portions thereof to provide the desired characteristic of being able to be used with a range of sizes of rectangular kitchen containers. If desired the elasticaily stretchable support assembly could be formed of metal such as by utilising thin coil springs.
  • the intermediate portion of the elasticaily stretchable support assembly which extends substantially diagonally across the container beneath the base includes a substantially centrally disposed ring or other lateral protrusions which is relatively stiff so as to provide a retaining force toward the container base to the stored lids offset from the medial line between said opposed comers.
  • container lids will have different stiffness characteristics and be of various sizes it is considered that this provision will assist in keeping most forms and sizes of lids secured beneath the container on which the aide is supported.
  • the location means serves not only to position the intermediate portion but also to resist its movement away from its substantially diagonally extending position beneath the container base when lids are forced into their stored position or retained lids are removed.
  • the location means may be respective panels which deform over the respective opposed base corners of a container.
  • the location means provides respective locating apertures which locate about the base corners of the container and suitably several locating apertures are provided in series adjacent each end thereof such that the storage aide may be used on shallow containers where locating apertures closer to the termination means may engage over the base corners or on deep containers where apertures further distant from the termination means may engage over the base corners.
  • the Iocating apertures are defined by resilient portions of the elasticaily stretchable support assembly whereby in use, they may stretch to substantially conform to the shape of the container.
  • the storage aide may be used on round bow!s and containers, the corneriess and often tapering lower portion of the containe may cause difficulty in use and thus for round containers there is provided a supporting rack assembly having an elevated bowl support on or in which a large round bow! may be supported with room underneath for the rack assembly to support smaller diameter iids and a side rack on which lids may be supported beside the elevated bowl support. Smaller containers of any configuration may be housed in the supported large round bowl.
  • the supporting rack may extend to one or both sides of the elevated bowl support and may be extendable so that its capacity to support lids beside the elevated bowl support may be adjusted.
  • this invention resides in a method of storing a rectangular kitchen container and a selected lid, including:- providing a storage aide as variously defined above;
  • a plurality of lids may be so retained beneath a container and the smaller containers which match the smaller retained lids may be accommodated within the first mentioned container for compact storage with their matching lids.
  • a method includes selecting the largest of a number of containers to be stored as a compact unit whereby the smaller containers may be stored therein, connecting the elastically stretchable support assembly to the largest container by operaiively engaging the termination means with the open top of the largest container and arranging the medial portion of the support assembly beneath the base of the largest container and extending substantially diagonally thereacross, and
  • Fig. 1 illustrates a storage aide disposed in an operative attitude
  • Fig. 2 illustrates the storage aide folded
  • Fig. 3 is a view of the storage aide connected to a rectangular container
  • Fig. 4 is an underside view of the container with storage aide attached from beneath;
  • Fig. 5 illustrates another form or storage aide
  • Fig. 6 illustrates a further form of storage aide secured to a container
  • Fig, 7 illustrates the corner connector for the storage aide illustrated in Fig. 6;
  • Fig. 8 illustrates the base part for the storage aide illustrated in Fig. 6, and Fig. 9 illustrates a rack assembly for storing round containers. Description of embodiments
  • the storage aide illustrated is a one piece storage device 10 which has opposed corner connectors 1 1 and an intermediate ring 12 each being formed of relatively stiff material and connected to one another by elastic portions 14 which are stretched in use to bias the intermediate ring 12 toward engagement with the base 16 of a container 15 to which the storage device is operatively attached.
  • the elastic portions 14 in this embodiment are each formed of spaced apart elastic longitudinal members 20 which are bridged by elastic transverse members 21 such that in use an outer end portion of each longitudinal member 20 may lie juxtaposed a respective container side face with a suitable one of the several loop portions 22 formed between the longitudinal members 20 and adjacent transverse members 21 encircling the respective lower corners 24 so as to locate the intermediate ring substantially centred on the diagonal line between those corners 24.
  • Each corner connector 11 is formed to hook into an open comer of the container and as illustrated in Fig. 3 the internal portions 25 of the connectors 11 are shaped to substantially conform to the internal corner of a container so as to be positively retained at the corner location and so that they form a minimal protrusion into the container 15 to maximise the size of another container which may be stored therebetween within the container 15.
  • the storage device 10 is secured to a container 15 as illustrated such that the intermediate ring 12 is disposed substantially centrally beneath the base 16 of the container 15 by the stretched longitudinal members 20.
  • the lid 27 for the container 15 or other lids may be inserted between the ring 12 and the base 16 for secure retention against the base 16 and such that the container 15 and the lid or lids secured therebeneath may be stored as a unit separate from other stored pieces in a storage area for retrieval as a unit enabling ready matching of the lids and the matching container suitably stored in the container 15.
  • the ring 12 provides a readily grasped member which may be restiiently pulled away or tilted from the base 16 if desired to enable a lid to be inserted and being of round shape with a circular cross-section the biased ring 12 should not snag a lid as it is inserted into or withdrawn from its stowed position.
  • the termination means is in the form of a resilient ring 31 connected to the longitudinal members 32 at diagonally opposite positions thereon such that the ring may be stretched about the open top of a seiected container above a lid fiange thereof to provide corner connections at diagonally opposite corners of a container. It may also incorporate a retaining strap to secure the smaller containers stored in the selected container.
  • the storage aide may be moulded as a one-piece plastics article with suitable form stiffening, such as wire inserts at the comer connectors to enable them to maintain their operative shape and function as corner hooks.
  • the storage aide may utilise different grades of plastics in different sections thereof to provide the stiffness and elasticity where necessary or suitable reinforcing may be incorporated to provide the necessary stiffness.
  • separate elastic sections may be clipped or otherwise secured in place between the corner connectors and the intermediate ring to provide the desired elasticity for biasing the intermediate ring toward the base of a container on which the storage device 10 is utilised, and of course, rectangular as used herein includes substantially rectangular and square shapes.
  • the storage aide 40 illustrated in Figs. 8, 7 and 8 is assembled from four components, namely a pair of corner connectors 41 , a base part 42 and an elastic band 43 which, as illustrated in Fig. 6, extends across the base pari 42 to the corner connectors 41 , only one of which is shown in Fig 6.
  • the elastic band 43 which has a round cross-section, hooks over a rounded support 44 provided at its inner end and terminated by a side fiange 45 which has an inner ramped abutment 46 over which the band 43 has to be forced for capture in the corner connector 41.
  • the elastic band 43 is also captured in the base part 42 by having opposed ends of the band 43 pulled through end slots 47 and 48 with the intermediate portions 49 ( spanning the slots 47 and 48 trapped beneath inwardly directed fingers 50 which project inwardly from opposite sides of the base part 42 between the slots 47 and 48.
  • the slots 47 and 48 are also provided with necking protrusions 51 at each end across which the band 43 has to be forced for capture in the ends of the slots 47 and 48.
  • Each corner connector 41 also has a returned catch member 53 which locates within the container 55 at a respective corner as illustrated at 56 in Fig. 6 and the opposing part of the connector 41 is cutaway at 57 to permit the connector 41 to locate about the corner projection 58 of the container.
  • An advantage of this embodiment is that the separate parts can be moulded of material specific to their use and the separate elastic band enables storage aids to be assembled utilising different length bands and or elastic properties for different applications.
  • the one piece elastic band 43 illustrated locates about opposed base corners of a container as in the previous embodiment.
  • this one-piece elastic band could also be formed with bridging bars between the opposed end portions which extend between the base part and the respective corner connectors to prevent excessive spreading of these opposed end portions where they pass over the base of the container.
  • Fig. 9 illustrates a storage rack assembly 60 for round containers 61 and their lids 62.
  • This rack assembly has spaced pairs of longitudinal rails including a lower pair of closely spaced rails 63 for supporting small diameter lids on edge and upper more widely spaced rails 64 for supporting larger diameter lids on edge.
  • An elevated centrai ring support 65 provides stable support for a relatively large bowl such that there is space therebeneath to support very small lids at 67 lying fiat on the rails 63 or 64,
  • Arched end stops 68 are provided at each end of the rails to retain lids which are supported inclined against the bowl 69 supported in the elevated central ring support 65.
  • the stops 68 may also provide anchors far an elastic strap which may be secured over the bowls and lids in the rack to make them more secure as a separately storab!e assembly.
  • one end stop 68 and the rails 63, 64 attached thereto are received telescopically in respective co-axiai tubular sockets 70, 71 respectively whereby that end stop 68 may be moved closer to or further away from the elevated central ring support 65 to suit the number and /or sizes of the lids to be supported at that side of the support 65,

Abstract

This invention provides a storage aide (10) for holding a container lid (27) or a stack of container lids against the underside of a rectangular storage container (15). This is achieved by providing opposed corner connectors (11) which engage about the diagonally opposite corners at the open end of the container (15) interconnected by an elastic part (14) which can be stretched and located about the base corners (24) below the corner connections (15) so as to maintain the elastic part (14) extending substantially diagonally across the container beneath the base thereof for supporting a container lid (27) or lids stored against the base (16) of the container (15).

Description

Storing plastic containers and lids
Technical Field
This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for convenient storage of plastic containers, particularly rectangular shaped containers, but also round bowls and the like and their lids such as in kitchen drawers, cupboards or shelves.
Background Art
Plastic containers are widely used in most kitchens, both domestic and commercial, for the convenient storage of food as closure of a container by its lid creates a sealed confinement for the food therein which can be stored and handled without fear of the contents being spilled or spoiled. Accordingly many kitchens have a wide array of containers of different shapes and sizes as well as containers for special purposes stored for use when required.
A frequent problem which is encountered is finding the right lid for a selected container and searching for an elusive lid which is known to be stored can cause time deiays and can create frustrations, especially in a busy kitchen. Some of these containers are round but many are rectangular in varying sizes and configurations.
This invention in one aspect aims to provide a method of and apparatus for storing rectangular containers and their iids in a compact convenient configuration and whereby selection of a container and its matching lid may be more readily achieved.
This invention also aims to provide a method of and apparatus for storing round containers and their lids in a compact convenient configuration.
Summary of Invention
With the foregoing in view this invention in one aspect resides in a storage aide for holding a container fid or a stack of container lids against the underside of a rectangular storage container including :- termination means engageable with the open end of the container whereby corner connections are provided at diagonally opposite corners of the container; an elasticaily stretchabie support assembly extending between the corner connections and including location means which locate about the opposed base corners of the container beneath said diagonally opposite comers so as to maintain the intermediate portion of the elasticail stretchabie support assembly extending substantially diagonally across the container beneath the base thereof .
The termination means may include an adjustable strap or frame or an elastic ring which may extend closely around an upper end of the container above a lid flange or the like protrusion adjacent the open end to provide the corner connections.
Preferably the termination means is a pair of opposed terminations each of which may be operativeiy retained at a respective opposing open comer of the open topped container to form the corner connections. Each termination may be a terminating hook which may be hooked into the open corner of a container or each termination may be a latch, clip or other termination adapted to engage in a complementary corner formation in a container or each termination means may engage with a formation provided on the container for attaching the lid thereto.
In a preferred form each terminating hook is formed so as to positively locate over an open corner of the container. Preferably the terminating hook is shaped to fit closely into the corner so as to maximise the internal diagonal dimension therebetween for accommodating a simitar size or relatively large container therebetween substantially within the container supporting the storage aide.
The elasticaily stretchabie support assembly may be formed of discrete components all or some of which may be elasticaily stretchabie by being formed of elasticaily stretchabie material or be te!escopicaliy expandable and biased to a contracted attitude by spring means or the elasticaily stretchabie support assembly may be formed in one-piece by moulding or fabrication from an elasticaily stretchable material such as rubber or other elastomeric material or the like and if desired different grades or thicknesses of materia! may be utilised at different portions thereof to provide the desired characteristic of being able to be used with a range of sizes of rectangular kitchen containers. If desired the elasticaily stretchable support assembly could be formed of metal such as by utilising thin coil springs.
In a preferred form the intermediate portion of the elasticaily stretchable support assembly which extends substantially diagonally across the container beneath the base includes a substantially centrally disposed ring or other lateral protrusions which is relatively stiff so as to provide a retaining force toward the container base to the stored lids offset from the medial line between said opposed comers. As container lids will have different stiffness characteristics and be of various sizes it is considered that this provision will assist in keeping most forms and sizes of lids secured beneath the container on which the aide is supported.
The location means serves not only to position the intermediate portion but also to resist its movement away from its substantially diagonally extending position beneath the container base when lids are forced into their stored position or retained lids are removed. The location means may be respective panels which deform over the respective opposed base corners of a container. Preferably however the location means provides respective locating apertures which locate about the base corners of the container and suitably several locating apertures are provided in series adjacent each end thereof such that the storage aide may be used on shallow containers where locating apertures closer to the termination means may engage over the base corners or on deep containers where apertures further distant from the termination means may engage over the base corners. Suitably the Iocating apertures are defined by resilient portions of the elasticaily stretchable support assembly whereby in use, they may stretch to substantially conform to the shape of the container. While the storage aide may be used on round bow!s and containers, the corneriess and often tapering lower portion of the containe may cause difficulty in use and thus for round containers there is provided a supporting rack assembly having an elevated bowl support on or in which a large round bow! may be supported with room underneath for the rack assembly to support smaller diameter iids and a side rack on which lids may be supported beside the elevated bowl support. Smaller containers of any configuration may be housed in the supported large round bowl. The supporting rack may extend to one or both sides of the elevated bowl support and may be extendable so that its capacity to support lids beside the elevated bowl support may be adjusted.
In another aspect this invention resides in a method of storing a rectangular kitchen container and a selected lid, including:- providing a storage aide as variously defined above;
connecting the elastically stretchable support assembly to an open topped container by operaiively engaging the termination means with the open top of the container and arranging the medial portion of the support assembly beneath the base of the container, and
inserting the selected lid between the medial portion and the base of the container such that the container with the retained lid may be stowed as a unit in a storage area.
A plurality of lids may be so retained beneath a container and the smaller containers which match the smaller retained lids may be accommodated within the first mentioned container for compact storage with their matching lids.
Accordingly a method according to this invention includes selecting the largest of a number of containers to be stored as a compact unit whereby the smaller containers may be stored therein, connecting the elastically stretchable support assembly to the largest container by operaiively engaging the termination means with the open top of the largest container and arranging the medial portion of the support assembly beneath the base of the largest container and extending substantially diagonally thereacross, and
inserting the selected iids between the media! portion and the base of the largest container such that the container with the lids retained therebeneath and the smaller containers accommodated therein may be stowed as a unit in a storage area.
Brief Description of Drawings
In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate typical embodiments of this invention, and wherein:-
Fig. 1 illustrates a storage aide disposed in an operative attitude;
Fig. 2 illustrates the storage aide folded;
Fig. 3 is a view of the storage aide connected to a rectangular container;
Fig. 4 is an underside view of the container with storage aide attached from beneath;
Fig. 5 illustrates another form or storage aide;
Fig. 6 illustrates a further form of storage aide secured to a container;
Fig, 7 illustrates the corner connector for the storage aide illustrated in Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 illustrates the base part for the storage aide illustrated in Fig. 6, and Fig. 9 illustrates a rack assembly for storing round containers. Description of embodiments
As illustrated in Fig. 1 , the storage aide illustrated is a one piece storage device 10 which has opposed corner connectors 1 1 and an intermediate ring 12 each being formed of relatively stiff material and connected to one another by elastic portions 14 which are stretched in use to bias the intermediate ring 12 toward engagement with the base 16 of a container 15 to which the storage device is operatively attached.
The elastic portions 14 in this embodiment are each formed of spaced apart elastic longitudinal members 20 which are bridged by elastic transverse members 21 such that in use an outer end portion of each longitudinal member 20 may lie juxtaposed a respective container side face with a suitable one of the several loop portions 22 formed between the longitudinal members 20 and adjacent transverse members 21 encircling the respective lower corners 24 so as to locate the intermediate ring substantially centred on the diagonal line between those corners 24.
Each corner connector 11 is formed to hook into an open comer of the container and as illustrated in Fig. 3 the internal portions 25 of the connectors 11 are shaped to substantially conform to the internal corner of a container so as to be positively retained at the corner location and so that they form a minimal protrusion into the container 15 to maximise the size of another container which may be stored therebetween within the container 15.
In use, the storage device 10 is secured to a container 15 as illustrated such that the intermediate ring 12 is disposed substantially centrally beneath the base 16 of the container 15 by the stretched longitudinal members 20. The lid 27 for the container 15 or other lids may be inserted between the ring 12 and the base 16 for secure retention against the base 16 and such that the container 15 and the lid or lids secured therebeneath may be stored as a unit separate from other stored pieces in a storage area for retrieval as a unit enabling ready matching of the lids and the matching container suitably stored in the container 15.
The ring 12 provides a readily grasped member which may be restiiently pulled away or tilted from the base 16 if desired to enable a lid to be inserted and being of round shape with a circular cross-section the biased ring 12 should not snag a lid as it is inserted into or withdrawn from its stowed position.
In the storage device 30 illustrated in Fig, 5 the termination means is in the form of a resilient ring 31 connected to the longitudinal members 32 at diagonally opposite positions thereon such that the ring may be stretched about the open top of a seiected container above a lid fiange thereof to provide corner connections at diagonally opposite corners of a container. It may also incorporate a retaining strap to secure the smaller containers stored in the selected container.
The storage aide may be moulded as a one-piece plastics article with suitable form stiffening, such as wire inserts at the comer connectors to enable them to maintain their operative shape and function as corner hooks. The storage aide may utilise different grades of plastics in different sections thereof to provide the stiffness and elasticity where necessary or suitable reinforcing may be incorporated to provide the necessary stiffness. Alternatively, separate elastic sections may be clipped or otherwise secured in place between the corner connectors and the intermediate ring to provide the desired elasticity for biasing the intermediate ring toward the base of a container on which the storage device 10 is utilised, and of course, rectangular as used herein includes substantially rectangular and square shapes.
The storage aide 40 illustrated in Figs. 8, 7 and 8 is assembled from four components, namely a pair of corner connectors 41 , a base part 42 and an elastic band 43 which, as illustrated in Fig. 6, extends across the base pari 42 to the corner connectors 41 , only one of which is shown in Fig 6. At each corner connector 41 the elastic band 43, which has a round cross-section, hooks over a rounded support 44 provided at its inner end and terminated by a side fiange 45 which has an inner ramped abutment 46 over which the band 43 has to be forced for capture in the corner connector 41. The elastic band 43 is also captured in the base part 42 by having opposed ends of the band 43 pulled through end slots 47 and 48 with the intermediate portions 49( spanning the slots 47 and 48 trapped beneath inwardly directed fingers 50 which project inwardly from opposite sides of the base part 42 between the slots 47 and 48. The slots 47 and 48 are also provided with necking protrusions 51 at each end across which the band 43 has to be forced for capture in the ends of the slots 47 and 48.
Each corner connector 41 also has a returned catch member 53 which locates within the container 55 at a respective corner as illustrated at 56 in Fig. 6 and the opposing part of the connector 41 is cutaway at 57 to permit the connector 41 to locate about the corner projection 58 of the container.
An advantage of this embodiment is that the separate parts can be moulded of material specific to their use and the separate elastic band enables storage aids to be assembled utilising different length bands and or elastic properties for different applications.
The one piece elastic band 43 illustrated locates about opposed base corners of a container as in the previous embodiment. However this one-piece elastic band could also be formed with bridging bars between the opposed end portions which extend between the base part and the respective corner connectors to prevent excessive spreading of these opposed end portions where they pass over the base of the container.
Fig. 9 illustrates a storage rack assembly 60 for round containers 61 and their lids 62. This rack assembly has spaced pairs of longitudinal rails including a lower pair of closely spaced rails 63 for supporting small diameter lids on edge and upper more widely spaced rails 64 for supporting larger diameter lids on edge. An elevated centrai ring support 65 provides stable support for a relatively large bowl such that there is space therebeneath to support very small lids at 67 lying fiat on the rails 63 or 64, Arched end stops 68 are provided at each end of the rails to retain lids which are supported inclined against the bowl 69 supported in the elevated central ring support 65. The stops 68 may also provide anchors far an elastic strap which may be secured over the bowls and lids in the rack to make them more secure as a separately storab!e assembly.
In this embodiment, one end stop 68 and the rails 63, 64 attached thereto are received telescopically in respective co-axiai tubular sockets 70, 71 respectively whereby that end stop 68 may be moved closer to or further away from the elevated central ring support 65 to suit the number and /or sizes of the lids to be supported at that side of the support 65,
It will of course be realised that the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

I CLAIM:
1. A storage aide for holding a container lid or a stack of container iids against the underside of a rectangular storage container including:- termination means engageable with the open end of the container whereby corner connections are provided at diagonaliy opposite comers of the container; an eiastically stretchabie support assembly extending between the corner connections and including location means which locate about the opposed base corners of the container beneath said diagonaliy opposite corners so as to maintain the intermediate portion of the eiastically stretchabie support assembly extending substantially diagonally across the container beneath the base thereof.
2. A storage aide as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the termination means is a pair of opposed terminations each of which may be operatively retained at a respective opposing open corner of the open topped container to form the corner connections.
3. A storage aide as claimed in claim 1 or ciaim 2, wherein each termination is a terminating hook.
4. A storage aide as claimed in claim 3, wherein eac terminating hook is formed so as to positively locate over an open corner of the container and is shaped to conform with said corner.
5. A storage aide as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the eiastically stretchabie support assembly is formed in one-piece from an eiastically stretchabie materia!.
6. A storage aide as claimed in claim 5, wherein the intermediate portion of the eiastically stretchabie support assembly adapted to extend substantially diagonaliy across the container beneath the base includes a relatively stiff lateral protrusion.
7. A storage aide as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the location means is formed by respective locating apertures formed in the elastica!!y stretchable support assembly and adjacent each termination means and adapted in use to locate about the base comers of a storage container.
8. A storage aide as claimed in claim 7, wherein the eiasticaliy stretchable support includes several locating apertures along each end portion thereof.
9. A storage aide as claimed in claim 8, wherein the locating apertures are defined by resilient portions of the eiasticaliy stretchable support assembly.
10. A storage aide substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 1. A method of storing a rectangular kitchen container and a selected lid, inc!uding:- providing a storage aide as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10;
connecting the eiasticaliy stretchable support assembly to an open topped container by operatively engaging the termination means with the open top of the container and arranging the medial portion of the support assembly beneath the base of the container, and
inserting the selected lid between the media! portion and the base of the container such that the container with the retained lid may be stowed as a unit.
12. A supporting rack assembly having an elevated bowl support on or in which a large round bowl may be supported and a side rack on which lids may be supported beside the elevated bow! support.
13. A supporting rack assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
14. A method of storing containers and their lids including:- se!ecting the largest of a number of containers to be stored and placing smaller containers therein;
operativeiy connecting a storage aide as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 to the Iargest container by operativeiy engaging the termination means with the open top of the iargest container and arranging the medial portion of the support assembly beneath the base of the Iargest container and extending substantially diagonally thereacross, and
inserting the selected lids between the media! portion and the base of the iargest container whereby the containers with the lids retained therebeneath may be stowed as a unit in a storage area.
PCT/AU2014/000357 2013-03-26 2014-03-25 Storing plastic containers and lids WO2014153621A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2013901042 2013-03-26
AU2013901042A AU2013901042A0 (en) 2013-03-26 Storing plastic containers and lids
AU2013205156 2013-04-14
AU2013205156A AU2013205156A1 (en) 2013-03-26 2013-04-14 Storing plastic containers and lids

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2014153621A1 true WO2014153621A1 (en) 2014-10-02

Family

ID=51622289

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU2014/000357 WO2014153621A1 (en) 2013-03-26 2014-03-25 Storing plastic containers and lids

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2013205156A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2014153621A1 (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5797167A (en) * 1996-07-01 1998-08-25 Schwab; Leonard M. Elastic cord tie-down construction
USD479947S1 (en) * 2002-05-22 2003-09-30 Dart Industries Inc. Flexible handle for containers
US6675977B2 (en) * 2002-03-04 2004-01-13 Charles K. Parks Dual band dishwasher clip
US20110049922A1 (en) * 2008-02-27 2011-03-03 George Timothy Burrell carrier for carrying rectangular items

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5797167A (en) * 1996-07-01 1998-08-25 Schwab; Leonard M. Elastic cord tie-down construction
US6675977B2 (en) * 2002-03-04 2004-01-13 Charles K. Parks Dual band dishwasher clip
USD479947S1 (en) * 2002-05-22 2003-09-30 Dart Industries Inc. Flexible handle for containers
US20110049922A1 (en) * 2008-02-27 2011-03-03 George Timothy Burrell carrier for carrying rectangular items

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2013205156A1 (en) 2014-10-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20080210648A1 (en) Collapsible dish and utensil rack
US9730555B1 (en) Collapsible cake carrier
US8313132B2 (en) Container carrier system
US20120068027A1 (en) Device for holding packages
US20090045708A1 (en) Adjustable storage bin
US6648150B2 (en) Storage device
US20110062093A1 (en) Device for file storage
US20130233874A1 (en) Container with multiple covers
US20180177298A1 (en) Portable collapsable shelf and method of use
US20070108080A1 (en) Baking pan stacking clips
US6729479B2 (en) Wire storage device
WO2014153621A1 (en) Storing plastic containers and lids
US3603541A (en) Collapsible bag support
US20110290748A1 (en) Box holding system
US10477966B2 (en) System for optimizing use of storage space
US6454223B1 (en) Support frame for plastic bag with handles
US20040140274A1 (en) Stacking device for thermoplastic containers and/or lids
US20040108426A1 (en) Suspension device for thermoplastic containers
US20110013858A1 (en) Kitchen storage bag filling apparatus
KR20170025749A (en) Disposable paper cups collection
US9242755B1 (en) Bag holder
US20040108430A1 (en) Suspension device for thermoplastic containers
US20180078036A1 (en) Connector apparatus
NL2012112C2 (en) PLANT HOLDER AND METHOD.
US10542864B2 (en) Dishwasher rack accessory for securing articles

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 14773163

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

DPE1 Request for preliminary examination filed after expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed from 20040101)
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

32PN Ep: public notification in the ep bulletin as address of the adressee cannot be established

Free format text: NOTING OF LOSS OF RIGHTS PURSUANT TO RULE 112(1) EPC (EPO FORM 1205A DATED 19/02/2016)

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 14773163

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1