GB2481997A

GB2481997A - Tear-Drop Shaped Connecting Containers

Info

Publication number: GB2481997A
Application number: GB1011790.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tessa Mountain
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-07-14
Filing date: 2010-07-14
Publication date: 2012-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 2030-07-14
Also published as: GB201011790D0; GB2481997B

Abstract

A flexibly resilient container 1 in the shape of a tear drop, one end forming a tip 6 and the other end being curved 8, having a base and upstanding side walls, an arm 4 extending from the tip and following the same curve as the curved end extending substantially 60% of the length of the curved end, such that in use the arm may fit around the curved end of a similar container to connect them together (Figure 3). Two, three (Figure 6) or four (Figure 7) containers may connect together. The arm may be the full height of the upstanding walls. A cut out in a sidewall adjacent the tip may provide a handle. The container may be made from polypropylene, bamboo or a soft ply wood. The containers may be provided with lids. The container may be used for rubbish, as desk tidies or food containers.

Description

Container The present invention relates to container, and in particular containers that connect together.

As a result of changes to rubbish collection, it is becoming more important for householders to separate their own rubbish. This requires the use of multiple bins, which take up additional space and clutter and area. The use of several bins to collect the various types of rubbish takes up considerable space, and looks untidy or unnecessary.

The object of the present invention is to provide a container that can connect with other identical containers to create a set of containers.

According to the invention there is provided a container comprising * a tear drop shaped holding section having a base and upstanding side walls, the tear drop including a tip and a curved end, and * an arm extending from the tip of the tear drop, the arm following substantially the same curve as the curved end of the tear drop, extending substantially 60% of the length of the curved end the container being made of a flexibly resilient material.

In use, containers can be used separately, or more commonly two or more containers can be connected together. The curved end of the tear drop section of one container can be fitted into the arm of another container, holding the containers in close proximity.

Preferably the arm will extend the full height of the upstanding side walls of the holding section, however, in some embodiments the arm may be of reduced height. When the arm is of reduced height it may extend from a lowest point on the tip of the teardrop, the highest point of the tip of the tear drop, or any position in between.

In some embodiments the container may be provided with a handle.

Preferably the handle in the form of a hand slot cut out of a side wall. Usually this is provided adjacent the tip of the tear drop on the holding section. However, the handle may be provided anywhere on the container.

To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a single container according to the invention; Figure 2 is a top view of the container of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side perspective view of a pair of connected container according to the invention; Figure 4 is a top view of the pair of containers of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a side perspective view of a set of three containers according to the invention; Figure 6 is a top view of the set of three containers of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a side perspective view of a set of four container according to the invention; and Figure 8 is a top view of the set of four containers of Figure 7.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the container 1 thereshown comprises a tear drop shaped holding section 2, and an extending arm 4.

The tear drop comprises a tip 6 and a curved end 8. The extending arm 4, extends from the tip 6 of the tear drop and has a curve substantially equal to the curved end 8 of the tear drop, extending substantially 60% of the length of the curved end.

Typically the container will be made of a resiliently flexible material, such as polypropylene. However, any other material that can be deformed under pressure but will return to shape once the force is removed can be used, for example other plastics materials, soft ply wood, bamboo, or other similar materials.

The container is provided with a handle 10 provided as a slot in a wall 12 of the container, adjacent the tip 6. However, the handle may be provided anywhere else on the container or indeed may be omitted altogether.

s In use, the container may be used alone, although more commonly it will be provided in sets of two, three, four, or more.

Turning now to Figures 3 and 4, two container 1, 101 are provided, mated together. The holding section 2 of the first container 1, is fitted within the arm 104 of the second container 101. Similarly the holding section 102 of the second container 101 is fitted within the arm 4 of the first container. The arms 4, 104, fit with an interference fit, around the holding sections 102, 2 of the other container. Thus the two containers, 1, 101 are held together. Along the line 10, where the two containers 1, 101, meet, there is some deformation of the containers. As can be seen, this is minimal deformation, and can easily be accommodated by the flexibility in the containers.

Turning now to Figures 5 and 6, three containers 1, 101, 201 are shown, mated together. The holding section 2 of the first container is fitted with the arm 104 of the second container; the holding section 102 of the second container is fitted with the arm 204 of the third container; and the holding section 202 of the third container is fitted within the ann 4 of the first container. The three containers 1, 101, 201 forming a clover leaf shape. The touching edges 12, 112, 212 of the container are slightly deformed by the pressure of forcing the containers together. However, this deformation is slight, is accommodated by the flexible material of the container, and the containers will return to shape once disconnected.

Now referring to Figure 7 and 8, four containers are theresbown, mated together. As before the holding section 2 of the first container is fitted within the arm 104 of the second container; the holding section 102 of the second container is fitted with the arm 204 of the third container; and the holding section 202 of the third container is fitted within the arm 304 of the third container; and the holding section 302 of the forth container is held within the arm 4 of the first container. Again there is sufficient flexibility within the container for the slight deformation required to fit the container together, as shown in Figure 8.

The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above-described embodiment. For instance, the container as shown without lids. However, the containers can each be provided with lids, which will fit inside the tear drop shaped holding section. The containers will typically be used a bins and can be made is a range of different sized to suit different requirements. Alternatively they can be used for holding other objects, as desk tidies, or food containers. * 5 a

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A container comprising * a tear drop shaped holding section having a base and upstanding side walls, the tear drop including one end forming a tip and the other end being curved, the tip being to one side relative to the curved end, and * an arm extending from the tip of the tear drop, the arm following substantially the same curve as the curved end of the tear drop, curving towards the side away from the tip and extending substantially 60% of the length of the curved end the container being made of a flexibly resilient material, such that in use two or more containers can be connected together with the arm of one container fitting around the curved end of another container.
2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arm is the full height of the upstanding side walls.
3. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arm is narrow compared to the height of the upstanding side walls.
4. A container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the arm extends from any point on the height of the tip.
5. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the container includes a handle.
6. A container a claimed in claim 5, wherein the handle is provided as a cut out in a side wall.
7. A container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cut-out is provided adjacent the tip of the treat drop
8. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the container is made from a plastics material such as polypropylene.
9. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the container is made from soft ply wood, bamboo or other resiliently flexible material.