Container with stacking feature
AssigneePactiv Corporation
InventorsFrank Andrew Petlak, H. Bernard Kirkland, Craig Edward Cappel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Container including a bottom and sidewalls with undulating pattern of peaks and valley. At least one stacking feature is provided to allow a plurality of containers to be stacked. In one embodiment, the stacking feature is disposed proximate a bottom edge of the sidewall at a peak. In another embodiment, the stacking feature is a stack flap disposed proximate a top edge of the container. Alternatively, the stacking feature is a stack ring having a shape which corresponds to the sidewall perimeter and has an inwardly protruding lip.
Claims44
A container, comprising:
- a bottom having a periphery;
- a side wall extending generally upward from the bottom about the periphery in an alternating pattern of peaks and valleys to define an interior of the container, the sidewall defining a top edge and a bottom edge;
- at least one stacking feature disposed proximate the bottom edge of the sidewall.
A plurality of containers having a first orientation and a second orientation, the plurality of containers comprising:
- a first container;
- and
- a second container;
- the second container received on top of the first container when the plurality of containers are aligned in a first orientation;
- the second container nested within the first container when the plurality of containers are aligned in a second orientation;
- each of the first container and the second container being substantially similar in shape and including:
- a bottom having a periphery,
- a side wall extending generally upward from the bottom about the periphery in an undulating pattern of peaks and valleys to define an interior of the container, the sidewall defining a top edge and a bottom edge,
- at least one stacking feature disposed proximate the bottom edge of the sidewall;
- wherein the stacking feature of the second container is disposed at a peak and configured to engage a valley of the first container, when the plurality of containers are aligned in the first orientation.
A stack of containers comprising:
- a first container and a second container,
- each of the first container and the second container being substantially similar in shape and including:
- a bottom having a periphery,
- a side wall extending generally upward from the bottom about the periphery in an undulating pattern of peaks and valleys to define an interior of the container, the sidewall defining a top edge and a bottom edge;
- and
- a stack ring disposed at the top edge of the first container, the stack ring having an open center and an interior shelf extending inwardly towards the open center;
- wherein the bottom of the second container is disposed on the interior shelf of the stack ring.
A container, comprising:
- a bottom having a periphery;
- a side wall extending generally upward from the bottom about the periphery in an alternating pattern of peaks and valleys to define an interior of the container, the sidewall defining a top edge and a bottom edge;
- a plurality of stack flaps disposed proximate the top edge, each stack flap having a first position with the stack flap extending outwardly from the exterior of the container, and a second position with the stack flap extending inwardly toward the interior of the container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.