Granted Patent B2

US 8,047,392 · App. 11/780,197 · Granted Nov 1, 2011

Abstract

Claims (25)

1. A container for liquids, comprising:

a base member;

an annular sidewall member that is attached to and extends upward from the base member;

a spout for receiving an associated closure cap for removable placement on and off of the spout;

an upwardly converging neck member that couples the annular sidewall member and the spout; and

a handle that is attached to the container proximate the neck member;

wherein the base member has a recessed portion that extends upwardly into the container such that the base member may rest upon the neck member of another container, the recessed portion having a lower contour that generally conforms to at least a portion of an upper contour formed by the neck member and closure cap when selectively disposed on the spout;

wherein the neck member has a support projection that extends upwards from the neck member, the support projection extending over at least a radial portion of the neck member, the support projection operable to support at least some of the weight directed upon the neck member due to the another container physically contacting a portion of the neck member located between the support projection and the spout;

wherein the neck member comprises at least one rib that extends from the spout and traverses at least a portion of the annular sidewall member, the handle being radially spaced apart on the neck member from the at least one rib, the at least one rib configured to transfer incident forces from the neck member to the annular sidewall member;

wherein the recessed portion having at least one slot that generally conforms to the at least one rib of the neck member to allow the at least one rib of one container to engage with at least one slot of another container; and

wherein the annular sidewall member has a sidewall protruding portion and a sidewall indented portion, the sidewall protruding portion having an outer contour that generally conforms to an inner contour of the sidewall indented portion, the sidewall protruding portion and the sidewall indented portion each extending from the base member to the neck member of the container.

2. The container of claim 1 , wherein the at least one rib is three ribs.

3. The container of claim 1 , wherein the support projection is generally semi-circular in shape.

4. The container of claim 1 , wherein the base member is generally square in shape.

5. The container of claim 1 , wherein the spout is centrally disposed over the base member.

6. A container for liquids, comprising:

a base member;

a sidewall member that is attached to and extends upwardly from the base member;

a spout; and

an upwardly converging neck member that couples the sidewall member and the spout;

wherein the base member includes a recessed portion that extends upwardly into the container; and

wherein the neck member includes a support projection that extends upwardly from the neck member, the support projection extending over at least a radial portion of the neck member; and

the container operable to be stacked with a second container by:

nesting the spout within the recessed portion of the second container such that the base member of the second container rests upon the support projection and physically contacts a portion of the neck member located between the support projection and the spout; and

wherein the support projection supports at least some of the weight that the second container directs upon the portion of the neck member.

Assignments (11)