Stackable flexible container assembly
View Patent ↗A stackable container assembly that is particularly suited for packaging heavy bulk products such as paint includes a container having a main body and a removable lid having an upstanding rim portion that has an upper surface. The container has a flexible bottom portion that has a lower surface that includes at least one support surface for supporting the container assembly on an underlying horizontal surface. The lower surface further includes at least one projection that is disposed radially inwardly from the support surface. The flexible bottom portion is advantageously configured so that the projection will flex radially downwardly and outwardly into a position that is adjacent to an upstanding rim portion of an underlying container assembly when the container assembly is stacked on top of another container assembly. This ensures accurate registration and positioning of the container assemblies during stacking.
1. A stackable container assembly, comprising:
a main body;
an upstanding rim portion having an upper surface; and
a flexible bottom portion, said flexible bottom portion having a lower surface comprising at least one support surface for supporting said container assembly on a horizontal surface, said lower surface further comprising at least one projection that is disposed radially inwardly from said support surface, and wherein said flexible bottom portion is configured so that said projection will flex downwardly into a position that is adjacent to an upstanding rim portion of an underlying container assembly when said container assembly is stacked on top of another container assembly;
wherein said container assembly comprises a removable lid portion, and wherein said upstanding rim portion is located on said removable lid portion; and
wherein said removable lid portion comprises a flexible diaphragm that is constructed and arranged to accommodate relative pressure changes between an interior of said container assembly and ambient conditions by flexing, whereby flexure of the rest of the container assembly as a result of such relative pressure changes is minimized.
2. A stackable container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one projection comprises a plurality of projections.
3. A stackable container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said projection comprises a first contact surface on a radially outer side thereof, said first contact surface having a vertical component, and wherein said upstanding rim portion comprises a second contact surface on a radially inner side thereof, said second contact surface also having a vertical component, and wherein said container assembly is configured so that said first contact surface is immediately adjacent to a second contact surface on an underlying container assembly when said container assembly is stacked on top of another container assembly.
4. A stackable container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said upper surface of said upstanding rim portion and said at least one support surface are configured so as to create a camming action that will induce said flexible bottom portion to flex in a manner that will move said at least one projection downwardly and radially outwardly when said container assembly is stacked on top of another container assembly.
5. A stackable container assembly according to claim 4 , wherein said upper surface of said upstanding rim portion comprises an area that is substantially flat.
6. A stackable container assembly according to claim 4 , wherein said at least one support surface comprises an area that is curved.
7. A stackable container assembly according to claim 6 , wherein said area that is curved is convexly curved.
8. A stackable container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one support surface comprises a substantially continuous standing ring.
9. A stackable container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one support surface extends downwardly beyond said projection when said container assembly is not stacked on top of another container assembly.
10. A stackable container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said upstanding rim portion comprises an abutment projection that extends upwardly from said upper surface, said abutment projection being located near a radially inner edge of said upper surface.
11. A stackable container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the main body, the upstanding rim portion and the flexible bottom portion are unitary with each other and fabricated from a plastic material.