US2582421A - Stacked container device - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 15, 1952 ESSMAN 2,582,421

STACKED CONTAINER DEVICE Filed Jan. 24, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 INVENTOR. MANUEL ESSMAN ATTORN EY.

Jan. 15, 1952 M. ESSMAN STACKED CONTAINER DEVICE 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Jan. 24, 1949 FIG. 5.

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FIG. 6.

. IN V EN TOR. MANUEL ESSMAN.

A'TTOIZNEY.

Patented Jan. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STACKED CONTAINER DEVICE Manuel Essman, New York, N. Y.

Application January 24, 1949, Serial No. 72,485

The present invention relates to improvements in stacked containers and has as its general object theprovision of a novel container unit wherein the individual container compartments are adapted to be supported one above the other in vertically aligned, superimposed relationship in their inoperative condition and wherein each compartment is readily swingable to exposed position permitting easy inspection of and access to the contents thereof without interfering with the stacked relationship of the remaining compart Another object of the invention is the provision of a containerassembly of the characterindicated which is of exceedingly simple design and construction and wherein the swivel mounting of the separate container compartments is achieved without the use of separate auxiliary supporting brackets, bearings and the like and wherein inadvertent misalignment of the compartments is rendered'impossible.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a container assembly of the character indicated wherein the component elements thereof may be readily and inexpensively fabricated by simple molding operations. In order to achieve the latter object the individual container units or compartments may be formed with an integral hub or sleeve portion readily insertable over an upright standard or rod affixed to a base element .so as to eliminate additional time-consuming assembly operations.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a container assembly of the character indicated wherein any given container unit may be readily removed and associated with a cover element to constitute a convenient closed unit particularly suitable for selling and dispensing purposes without requiring additional wrapping and packaging.

The foregoing objects as well as additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent in the course of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a pair of individual container units formed according to the invention, each unit being formed with a handle-grip, a stop member or pin limiting its swinging movement and a lock member or pin for releasably engaging the unit in inoperative aligned position with respect to the container assembly;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the container 1 Claim. (01. 312-201) assembly comprising a plurality of container units mounted in superimposed stacked relationship on the upright standard or rod of a base element;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a container assembiyprovided with a lighting source mounted on the standard thereof and showing some of the container units swung to operative exposed posiion;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the container assembly with the individual container units swung to operative exposed position;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the container assembly with the container units arranged in inoperative aligned or stacked relation;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-45 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of a removed container unit and cover element therefor adapting the unit for dispensing or vending purposes.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the individual container units are generally designated by reference numeral Hi and may be moldedfrom plastic or other suitable material, preferably in cylindrical form being open at the top and having a bottom wall I l and an annular sidewall 12. Each container unit it is provided with a peripheral hub or sleeve member l3 preferably formed integrally with side wall [2 and having a vertical bore l4 extending therethrough. A lateral hand-grip I5 is also provided to facilitate swinging the container unit it into and out of aligned position with respect to the container assembly, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

As clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, containers In may be provided with integral walls or partitions I6 dividing the interior of the container into sub-compartments. Although sleeve members I3 may be formed exteriorly of side walls 12, they are preferably formed interiorly of the side wall in order to provide a smooth, continuous contour and neat appearance of the assembled container units.

Container units I 0 are arranged for superposition in stacked relationship on a base member I! having an upright standard or rod l8 secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by threaded engagement therewith. The container units are assembled simply by inserting the sleeve member !3 over the upright rod I8. When it is desired to have access to the contents of any given container unit, the unit may be swung about rod l8 from inoperative position of Fig. 4, using the hand-grip [5.

Stop means is preferably provided for limiting the swinging movement of each container with respect to a subsequent container. This stop means preferably takes the form of a projection or pin IS on bottom wall I l adjacent the peripherythereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. Locking means is also provided on bottom wall H adjacent hand-grip H for releasably securing the container units in stacked aligned relationship. Said locking means conveniently takes the'form of a projection 26 extending downwardly from the bottom wall H of a given container unit H) for frictional engagement against the upper edge of side wall I2 of a subjacent container unit. In order for the lowermost unit ID to seat properly on base member ll, stop pin l9 and locking projection 2B are omitted on said lowermost unit.

A cover or lid 2| is provided for the uppermost container, being formed with an opening for insertion over upright I 8 and also with a handgrip 2la.

While the container assembly is not limited in its use and may be employed to house any type of article, it is desirable for some purposes-to provide a, source of illumination, as when sewing articles and the like are disposed within the container units ID, for example. Thus Fig. 3 illustrates illuminating element 22 which may be easily and conveniently mounted on upright rod l8.

novel design and construction enables a particular container unit ID to be removed from the upright rod 18 and to be associated with a cover clement adapting the unit for vending and dispensing purposes without requiring additional wrapping and packaging. Fig. .7 illustrates a removed container unit In anda separate cover element 25 for the specified purpose. Cover element 25 is provided adjacent its periphery with a stem or stud 26 insertable within the bore M of sleeve member I3. A stop pin 21 also is provided for limiting the swinging movement of the cover and a locking projection 28 serves to releasably secure the cover in closed position.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the assembly of the container units in stacked aligned relationship is effected in a simple and direct manner without requiring the use of auxiliary fastening element, brackets or the like by the provision of integral sleeve members l3 which are insertable over and swingable upon Another feature of the invention inherent in its upright rod I8. When the container units are arranged in stacked aligned relationship, the assembly is dust-proof. The contents of the individual container units I0 may be visually inspected without swinging the units to exposed operative position by molding the units from transparent plastic material.

Since certain additional modifications may be made in the stacked container device of the present invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing specification and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

A stacked container device comprising a base member having an upright support and a p1urality of container units adapted to be normally arranged upon said support in stacked, aligned relationship, each of said container units having an integral sleeve member insertable over said upright support to swing thereabout, each container unit except the lowermost one having depending means at one side of the container for engaging the opposite side of each subjacent container when said containers are swung into open position, whereby said container units will be successively opened in spiral fashion when the superjacent container is swung open and depend ing stop means on each container so positioned as to engage the exterior wall of a subjacent container slightly in advance of the closed position of said containers whereby continued closing motion of said container will cause a binding action between said container and a subiacent container.

MANUEL ESSMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 245,855 Morrison Aug. 16, 1881 1,256,306 Glanton Feb. 12, 1918 1,289,657 Cheney Dec. 31, 1918 1,831,401 Weidlich et al Nov. 10, 1931 2,045,013 7 Howland June 23, 1936 2,136,843 Dinkel Nov. 15, 1938 Mueller Oct. 21, 1947

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