Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
File No. P5370CA00
STACKABLE FLUID CONTAINER WITH DOUBLE TOP HANDLE
BACKGROUND
(a) Field
[0001] The subject matter disclosed generally relates to stackable
containers. More particularly, the subject matter disclosed relates to plastic
stackable containers which are reusable.
(b) Related Prior Art
[0002] In the field of plastic containers, there is a need for
economical
stackable containers that can be loaded on a pallet with the stackable
containers
being well stacked and tending to remain stacked without external support, for
example, without wrapping.
[0003] Further, there is a need for improved ergonomics, allowing
people to
be able to easily handle the container from more than one side of the
container.
[0004] There is therefore a need for new designs of stackable
containers
with improved ergonomics over existing designs.
SUMMARY
[0005] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a
stackable container for stacking over a base container identical to the
stackable
container, the stackable container including: a top including a receiving
surface
and a neck; a bottom including a resting surface and a clearance surface
raised
relative to the resting surface , the resting surface being adapted to rest on
the
receiving surface of the base container when the stackable container is
stacked
over the base container, and the clearance surface providing clearance for a
neck
of the base container; and a sidewall joining the top and the bottom to define
a
room in the stackable container, the sidewall includes a first wall and a
second wall
parallel to each other and respectively located on a first side and a second
side of
the stackable container, each sidewall including: an external face; and a
handle
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defined by a shaped surface extending inwardly from the external face to a
floor
portion isolating the handle from the other side of the stackable container.
[0006] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a
stackable container, wherein the handle includes a first portion slanted at a
first
angle different from 0 degree relative to a horizontal plane and a second
portion
slanted at a second angle different from 0 degree relative to the horizontal
plane.
[0007] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a
stackable container, wherein the first angle is negative, and the second angle
is
positive.
[0008] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a
stackable container, wherein a joining face extends outwardly between the two
portions of the handle.
[0009] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a
stackable container, wherein each of the handles including a floor, the floors
facing
opposite directions.
[0010] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a
stackable container, wherein the handles are closer to the top than to the
bottom.
[0011] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a
stackable container, wherein the top includes a lowermost portion, and wherein
the handles extend upwardly beyond the lowermost portion of the top.
[0012] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a
stackable container, wherein the neck is raised relative to the receiving
surfaces.
[0013] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a
stackable container, wherein the handles include a throughout portion wherein
the
handles are joined under the top.
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[0014] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a
stackable container, wherein the floors portions define a part of the room
located
vertically below the neck.
[0015] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a
stackable container, wherein the neck has a diameter, and wherein clearance
between the floor portions of the handles is between 75% and 150% of the neck
diameter.
[0016] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a
stackable container, wherein the stackable container has a thickness at a
height
defined by distance between the first wall and the second wall at a height
relative
to the resting surface, and wherein the thickness decreases above the
receiving
surface.
[0017] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a
stackable container, wherein the handles have a depth defined by a distance
between the respecting wall and the floor, and wherein the depth decreases
toward
the neck
[0018] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a
stackable container, wherein the receiving surface and the resting surface
have a
marrying shape.
[0019] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a
stackable container, wherein the receiving surface is symmetric relative to a
plane
equidistant from the first wall and the second wall.
[0020] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a
stackable container, wherein the receiving surface includes at least one an
apex.
[0021] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a
stackable container, including a first half and a second half according to an
axis
parallel to the first wall, and a center line located between the first wall
and the
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second wall, wherein the apex is offset from the center line toward the first
wall in
the first half and offset from the center line toward the second wall in the
second
half.
[0022] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a
stackable container, wherein the top includes a sloped surface extending
between
the receiving surface and the neck, and wherein the handles extend beyond the
sloped surface toward a part of the room under the neck.
[0023] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a
stackable container, wherein the stackable container is stackable over the
base
container with the first wall of the stackable container aligned with a first
wall of the
base container.
[0024] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a
stackable container, wherein the handles have an uppermost portion laterally
located under the neck.
[0025] Features and advantages of the subject matter hereof will
become
more apparent in light of the following detailed description of selected
embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying figures. As will be realized,
the
subject matter disclosed and claimed is capable of modifications in various
respects, all without departing from the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the
drawings and the description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and
not as
restrictive and the full scope of the subject matter is set forth in the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] Further features and advantages of the present disclosure
will
become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination
with
the appended drawings, in which:
[0027] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stackable container in
accordance
with an embodiment;
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[0028] Fig. 2 is a front view of the stackable container of Fig. 1;
and
[0029] Fig. 3 is a side view of the stackable container of Fig. 1;
[0030] Fig. 4 is a plan view of the stackable container of Fig.1;
[0031] Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the stackable container of Fig.1;
[0032] Fig. 6 is a front cross-section view of the stackable
container of Fig.
1 according to cross-section lines 6-6 depicted on Fig. 3;
[0033] Fig. 7 is a side cross-section view of the stackable
container of Fig.
1 according to cross-section lines 7-7 depicted on Fig. 2;
[0034] Fig. 8 is a cross-section bottom view of the stackable
container of
Fig. 1 depicting the top portion of the stackable container (i.e., view from
the
bottom) according to the cross-section lines 8-8 depicted on Fig. 2;
[0035] Fig. 9 is a cross-section plan view of the stackable
container of Fig.
1 depicting the bottom portion of the stackable container (i.e., viewed from
the top)
according to the cross-section lines 9-9 depicted on Fig. 2;
[0036] Fig. 10 is a front-left perspective view of a stackable
container in
accordance with another embodiment;
[0037] Fig. 11 is a right-left perspective view of the stackable
container of
Fig. 10; and
[0038] Fig. 12 is a perspective view of two stackable containers
identical to
the stack container of Fig. 1.
[0039] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like
features
are identified by like reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] The realizations will now be described more fully
hereinafter with
reference to the accompanying figures, in which realizations are illustrated.
The
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foregoing may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the illustrated realizations set forth herein.
[0041] With respect to the present description, references to items
in the
singular should be understood to include items in the plural, and vice versa,
unless
explicitly stated otherwise or clear from the text. Grammatical conjunctions
are
intended to express any and all disjunctive and conjunctive combinations of
conjoined clauses, sentences, words, and the like, unless otherwise stated or
clear
from the context. Thus, the term "or" should generally be understood to mean
"and/or" and so forth.
[0042] Recitation of ranges of values and of values herein or on the
drawings are not intended to be limiting, referring instead individually to
any and
all values falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and
each
separate value within such a range is incorporated into the specification as
if it
were individually recited herein. The words "about", "approximately", or the
like,
when accompanying a numerical value, are to be construed as indicating a
deviation as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art to
operate
satisfactorily for an intended purpose. Ranges of values and/or numeric values
are
provided herein as examples only, and do not constitute a limitation on the
scope
of the described realizations. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary
language ("e.g.," such as", or the like) provided herein, is intended merely
to better
illuminate the exemplary realizations and does not pose a limitation on the
scope
of the realizations. No language in the specification should be construed as
indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the
realizations.
The use of the term "substantially" is intended to mean for the most part" or
"essentially" depending on the context. It is to be construed as indicating
that some
deviation from the word it qualifies is acceptable as would be appreciated by
one
of ordinary skill in the art to operate satisfactorily for the intended
purpose.
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[0043] In the following description, it is understood that terms
such as "first",
"second", "top", "bottom", "above", "below", and the like, are words of
convenience
and are not to be construed as limiting terms.
[0044] The terms "top", "up", "upper", "bottom", "lower", "down",
"vertical",
"horizontal", "interior' and "exterior" and the like are intended to be
construed in
their normal meaning in relation with normal usage of the stackable container,
wherein Fig. 1 depicts the stackable container 100 upright ready either to be
placed
an identical stackable container on top or to be placed on top of an identical
stackable container. Fig. 1 furthermore depicts axes for reference of for the
reminder of the description,
[0045] In realizations, there are disclosed a new design of a
stackable
container 100.
[0046] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
Figs. 1 and
12, a stackable container 100 comprises a top 110, a bottom 130, and a
continuous
sidewall 150 comprising wide walls 152 and narrow walls 162. The stackable
container 100 is adapted to be stacked over an identical stackable container
100,
aka a base container.
[0047] Referring now additionally to Figs. 2 to 4, the top 110
comprises a
pair of receiving surfaces 112 having an apex 114 at the center. The top 110
comprises a neck 122 located over a neck surface 126, with the neck surface
being
at about the center of the top 110 of the stackable container 100 and the neck
122 being at about the center of the neck surface 126. The neck 122 provides
an
opening to the interior space 105 (see Figs. 6 and 7) of the stackable
container
100, with a cap 124 being adapted to be screwed on and unscrewed from the neck
122 to close and open the stackable container 100. The neck surface 126 is
generally raised relative to the receiving surfaces 112, with sloped surfaces
116
joining the receiving surfaces 112 to the neck surface 126.
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[0048] Referring additionally to Fig. 5, the bottom 130 comprising
resting
surfaces 132 having a shape that at least partially marry the shape of the
receiving
surfaces 112 and hence the resting surfaces 132 are received by the receiving
surfaces 112 of an identical stackable container 100 thereunder. The resting
surfaces 132, like the receiving surfaces 112, have a longitudinal apex 134 at
the
center and a clearance surface 136 raising from the resting surfaces 132 such
as
to provide clearance underneath for the sloped surfaces 116, the neck surface
126, the neck 122 and the cap 124 to take place under or, particularly in
relation
with the sloped surfaces 116, to potentially abut the clearance surface 136
without
hindering the contact between the receiving surfaces 112 of a bottom stackable
container 100 and the resting surfaces 132 of an identical stackable container
100
stocked over the bottom stackable container 100.
[0049] Referring additionally to Figs. 6 to 9, the stackable
container 100
comprises a continuous sidewall 150 joining the bottom 130 and the top 110 to
form an interior space 105, aka a room, in the stackable container 100.
[0050] The sidewall 150 comprises a pair of two wide walls 152 and
of two
narrow walls 162. The wide walls 152 are opposed and parallel to each other
(i.e.,
they defined opposed walls). The narrow walls are 162 are opposed and parallel
to each other.
[0051] The wide walls 152 each comprises an external face 154
which,
about the top 110, extends inwardly in a pair of handles 172 (i.e., two
handles),
wherein the two handles are inwardly shaped surfaces 174 extending
continuously
from one of the side walls 152 and providing a place for someone to put at
least
partially their fingers in the handle 172 to lift the stackable container 100.
[0052] The handles 172 are both slanted relative to horizontal
(slant angle
190) and with the uppermost portion of the handles 172 being close to the
center
of the wide walls 152 equidistant from the narrow walls 162, and the lowermost
portion of the handles 172 being closer to the narrow walls 162 (slant angle
192).
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[0053] According to a realization, as depicted on Figs. 2 and 6, the
uppermost limit of the handles 172 is higher than the lowermost limit of the
receiving surfaces 112.
[0054] According to a preferred realization, the handles 172 located
on a
wide wall 152 are distant from each other, with the inwardly shaped surfaces
174
of the handles 172 extending outwardly when close to each other in a joining
face
176 being about or slightly inward relative to the external face 154 about the
joining
face 176.
[0055] The handles 172 are further designed to be located back-to-
back on
opposed wide walls 152 such that someone may either place right-hand fingers
in
one of the back-to-back handles 172 and left-hand fingers in the other one of
the
back-to-back handles 172 or the contrary.
[0056] Furthermore, the width of the receiving surfaces 112 and the
distance between the handles 172 and the receiving surfaces 112 is selected
such
that someone is able to lift and hold a stackable container 100 using their
thumb
inserted in a first handle 172 and their other fingers of the same hand in the
handle
172 that is back-to-back with the first handle 172.
[0057] According to a realization, the depth and inclination of the
top portion
of the inwardly shaped surface 174 allows someone to insert their fingers
ergonomically in the handles 172 located on the same wide wall 152 and to pull
and/or hold the stackable container 100 using their two hands. The shape,
angle,
and relative location of the sloped surface 116 relative to the handle 172
further
provides a hinderance that prevent the side of a hand holding the stackable
container 100 to slide and abut the neck 122.
[0058] Finally, in a similar fashion, the stackable container 100
allows
someone to use both hands to hold a stackable container 100 having their
fingers
inserted in handles 172 located on one wide wall 152 and the thumbs inserted
in
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the opposed handles 172 with the arms and wrists having an acute angle
therebetween that is utmost ergonomic.
Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 9, according to a realization, the wide
walls 152
feature vertical ribs 182 extending along with the wide walls 152 from the
edge of
the resting surfaces 132 to the edge of the receiving surfaces 112. The ribs
182
provide additional strength to the stackable container 100 to resist vertical
pressure, or in other words to resist the weight resulting from one or more
identical
stackable containers 100 filled with, e.g., anti-freeze fluid, that would be
stacked
over the stackable container 100. Furthermore, to optimize vertical
resistance, the
resting surfaces 132 are designed to have their edges about the low end 184 of
the ribs 182 contacting a levelled ground. With the top end 186 of the ribs
182
extending upward to contact an identical stackable container 100 stacked over
the
stackable container 100, the design allows the weight to be transmitted
vertically
between the stacked stackable containers 100 to the ground.
[0059] Referring now to Figs. 10 and 11, according to a second
embodiment, a stackable container 200 has an inwardly shaped surface 174
defining a handle 172, with the surfaces 174 from both opposed wide walls 152
joining at the center of the stackable container 200 thereby defining at least
one
throughout passage 178 from one wide wall 152 to the opposed wide wall 152 to
define accordingly at least one bottomless handle. In the depicted realization
of
Figs. 10 and 11, a single passage 178, smaller than the inward chamber 204
defined by the inwardly shaped surface 174, extends therethrough one side, aka
about one narrow wall 162' of this realization, while the on the other side,
aka about
the opposite narrow wall 162", the handle 172 comprises a floor 188. The
stackable container 200 through results the passage 178 defining a conduit
restraining the flow from the interior space 105 to the neck 122 of any liquid
contained in the stackable container 200.
[0060] For all embodiments, it is worth noting that regardless of
relatively
sharp edges defining limits between the wide walls 152, and the narrow walls
162,
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and even the resting surfaces 132 and the clearance surface 136, other
embodiments may feature smoother edges, and even continuous curved walls
ensuring smooth transitions. Therefore, e.g., the sum of the walls 152, 162
may
have a general shape of, e.g., an ellipse without departing from the scope of
the
previous description.
[0061] It is also worth noting that the apexes 114 and 134 are
currently
defining a central line allowing the stackable containers 100 to vertically
align one
another since the apexes result in the top stackable container naturally
slipping
until the apexes 114, 134 are aligned. In embodiments where apexes 114, 134
are
not defining a central line, the apexes 114, 134 must be offset of the same
value
and in opposed direction (frontward and rearward) on the left side and the
right
side of the stackable container 100.
[0062] It is also worth noting that the receiving surfaces and 112
and the
resting surfaces 132 may have a variety of shapes comprising a V shape and an
inverted U shape.
[0063] It is also worth noting that the number of apexes per
surface may be
greater than one, based on the distance between the walls 152, as long as the
number of apex(es) 114 on the receiving surfaces 112 are designed to be
aligned
with the apex(es) 134 of the resting surfaces 132.
[0064] It is also worth noting that regardless of the present
description
defining, by contrast, the wide walls 152 and the narrow walls 162, the
junction
between the wide walls 152 and the narrow walls 162 may be ambiguous, such as
an edgeless sidewall 150 without departing from the present description, with
the
limits of the wide walls 152 and the narrow walls 162 being a question of
opinion.
[0065] Similarly, the characteristics of wide and narrow are for
teaching
purposes only in accordance with the figures. In realizations, the walls 152,
162
may have a relatively similar width, and may even be opposed in dimension
without
departing from the teaching of the present description.
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[0066] It is worth noting that, when pouring fluid from the handles
172 by
handling the stackable container 100 by the side, the location of the handles
172
(about the top 110 but distant from the top 110) and the slope of the top
portion of
the handles 172 define a narrowing conduit for the passage of fluid that is
wide
enough to allow controlled flow of the fluid. Furthermore, the slope of the
clearing
surface 132 provides a great surface for someone to put their hand and lift
the
stackable container 100 to use as a lever relative to the other hand to slant
the
stackable container 100.
[0067] Alternatively, when pouring from the front, the space
between the
handles 172 and the surface 174 provide a funnel-like structure easing the
process
of pouring fluid therefrom.
[0068] In consequence, the stackable container 100 is well adapted
to pour
fluid from both sides and alternatively from the front with the shape of the
interior
wall providing an aid in providing controlled flow when pouring.
[0069] While preferred embodiments have been described above and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident to those skilled
in the
art that modifications may be made without departing from this disclosure.
Such
modifications are considered as possible variants comprised in the scope of
the
disclosure.
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